Operation Smile Ethiopia

We are excited to share that Operation Smile is an #AnthemAwards Finalist and we’re in the running to win a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Anthem Award for our life-changing work! We can also win an #AnthemCommunityVoiceAward, but we need your help. Show your support for our work by voting for Operation Smile at celebrate.anthemawards.com so that we can showcase how we are bridging the gap in access to care! Voting is open now through Thursday, October 31st, at 11:59 pm PT.  We appreciate your support! #OperationSmile #GlobalHealth The Anthem Awards

At Operation Smile, we believe in the power of partnerships. Our collaborative efforts are essential in creating access to healthcare for those who need it most. We are deeply grateful to our partners for their unwavering support, which helps us achieve a sustainable impact in the communities we serve. As we celebrate #WorldSmileDay, we invite you to share your #ReasonstoSmile and join us in recognizing the strength of our partnerships. Together, we make a difference! #ReasonsToSmile

Operation Smile Ethiopia recently conducted an awareness creation event at Jimma University Medical Center on August 1, 2024, to promote breastfeeding for children with cleft conditions. The event aimed to highlight the health benefits of breastfeeding and the importance of supporting mothers in this process. The event was organized to coincide with World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated annually. This year's theme is ‘Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All’.A total of 30 breastfeeding mothers and caregivers of children with cleft conditions participated in the event, which was attended by local medical leaders including nutritionists, pediatricians, the Chief Clinical Officer of JUMC, and our Regional Director. Abiy addressed the participants and discussed the objectives of the event, as well as the support provided by Operation Smile for breastfeeding children with cleft conditions and their mothers/caregivers.Dr. Hunde, Pediatrician and Chief Clinical Officer of JUMC, emphasized the importance of breastfeeding and praised Operation Smile for their efforts in providing nutrition interventions, including breastfeeding support, for children with cleft conditions. Nutritionist Mohamed Abubeker and Pediatrician Dr. Aneso, both Operation Smile volunteers, educated the participants on optimal breastfeeding practices for children with cleft conditions and demonstrated proper techniques and positioning. Mohamed also highlighted the challenges faced by mothers of infants with cleft conditions and the support available to them. Participants were provided with food items to support breastfeeding mothers and their children. We are thankful for our volunteers who continue to provide nutritional care, including breastfeeding counseling, at JUMC and beyond.Operation Smile

Join us on July 23 at 2:00 PM UTC for an enlightening Operation Smile Academy live #webinar featuring Dr. Nicole Shilkofski, M.D., M.Ed from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In this session, titled “Pediatric Emergencies and Complications in the Recovery Room/PACU Environment” we'll review case-based discussions of emergencies commonly encountered in the PACU and OR during surgical programs. Additionally, we will discuss crisis resource management principles and teamwork dynamics that are critical in handling acute emergencies. Register for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/eJwBsDtd Sign up for an Operation Smile Academy account to receive a certificate of attendance: https://lnkd.in/egH3ZCDh

Operation Smile Ethiopia is pleased to announce the successful completion of the second patient advocacy and nutrition training course for 30 trainees in Jimma from June 25-26, 2024. The training was provided to professionals working closely with the community, including health extension workers and midwives. The goal of the training was to help eliminate the stigma associated with cleft conditions in the community. Operation Smile aims to equip trainees with the necessary skills and knowledge to identify patients with cleft conditions and provide families with information on treatment options, including surgery. The training also focused on how to properly feed patients with cleft conditions to prevent secondary complications such as malnutrition. By informing families about the services provided by Operation Smile, patients and their families are given hope. We would like to express our gratitude to the Ministry of Health for attending the session and discussing the importance of such training programs and the vital role of community workers in saving lives. We would also like to thank the Oromia Regional Health Bureau for their efforts in recruiting the trainees. #OSE #MoH Operation Smile

Join us on July 9 at 10 AM EST/2 PM UTC for an enlightening Operation Smile Academy live webinar featuring Dr. Tsion Firew, an emergency physician, former assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia University, and former advisor to the Federal Ministry of Health Ethiopia. In this session, we’ll discuss integrating emergency, critical care, and operative care for a healthier world. There will also be a Q&A opportunity with Dr. Firew at the end of the webinar. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills! Register for the webinar 

We are pleased to share with you the success of our recent training on 'Observational quantitative research methods in the healthcare system' for plastic surgeons in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Ethiopia on June 25 and 29, 2024. This training marks the beginning of a journey towards enhancing our skills and knowledge in conducting impactful research. The goal of this training is to empower participants to transform their clinical observations into valuable research questions. By learning how to design methodologies, collect data effectively, and analyze it with the right tools, participants will be equipped to produce publishable clinical papers. This training is crucial for clinicians looking to enhance their research capabilities. We extend our gratitude to Dr. Tigist Workneh from MRL for her invaluable contribution to this collaboration. Let's continue to strive for excellence in our research endeavors. Operation Smile

We are thrilled to witness the remarkable talent and dedication of young plastic and reconstructive surgeons who are leading the way with such enthusiasm to advance their profession. It was a pleasure for us to attend the 4th annual scientific conference of the Ethiopian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons from June 27-28, 2024. This year, we had the opportunity to share the progress of Operation Smile Ethiopia over the past year and our unwavering commitment to supporting the growth of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the country. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and passion demonstrated by these surgeons in their efforts to improve the lives of those in need. We are also thrilled to congratulate Zenebe Teklu Gebremariyam (MD, FCS-ECSA) and Metasebia Worku Abebe for receiving official recognition during the event for their outstanding contributions to their profession. We extend a heartfelt thank you to Andres Rodriguez -Lorenzo, our Champion in Microsurgery initiative from Uppsala Hospital, for sharing your expertise at this year's conference. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.Operation Smile

We are thrilled to announce that Operation Smile Ethiopia recently hosted the WFSA SAFE PAEDS course in Addis Ababa from June 18-20, 2024! Safe surgery is a top priority for Operation Smile, and we are excited to have partnered with WFSA to provide this essential training to our volunteers and partner Hospital faculty. A total of six  trainers, both international and local, led the course, with Dr. Tirunesh Busha shining as the course Director. We are proud to report that 23 anesthesiology health professionals successfully completed the course, with Seven of them selected to participate in the TOT course on June 21, 2024. This is a fantastic addition to our team of local volunteers and Course instructor in Country ! We want to extend a huge thank you to WFSA for their partnership in helping us deliver high-quality service to our patients. Congratulations to all who completed the course and to our new WFSA trainers! # Operation SmileWFSA (World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists)#Association of Anaesthetists