The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh) described as “a crime” the closure of the non-governmental organization Operation Smile dedicated to medical care, especially for low-income children with cleft lip and palate.
“Countless boys and girls have lost the opportunity to be operated on in Operation Smile Nicaragua, the Ortega Murillo regime has committed a crime by canceling the legal status of this organization,” the human rights organization said on Twitter. In 2021, the NGO carried out 31,577 consultations with 2,000 patients included in the programs focused on 18 different specialties.
Related news: Official media promoted the Operation Smile collection
The entity has been operating in the country since 1994, made up of a group of doctors and qualified paramedical personnel, who work voluntarily with people who give their time and energy, to carry out surgical sessions, multidisciplinary treatment and educational programs. The main objective was to offer comprehensive care to children, youth and adults with cleft lip and palate free of charge.
This Friday, March 18, they would carry out a national collection of funds to guarantee care for more than two thousand patients, which had to be suspended. For this campaign, the members promoted this activity in the official media, which for years supported the social work of the foundation.
Related news: Women, indigenous people and children are the most affected by the closure of NGOs
“This March 18 we invite you to help us continue giving smiles by joining our #NationalCollection and you will be contributing to the free comprehensive treatment received by more than 2,000 patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, who are treated at our Grace McGregor B Center” , details a post on the organization’s Facebook page.
Operation Smile is a member of Operation Smile International, an international medical organization, which has performed hundreds of thousands of free surgeries in developing countries on children and young adults born with cleft lip and/or palate or other facial deformities. It is one of the oldest and largest volunteer-based organizations dedicated to improving the health and lives of children around the world through surgical care.
