Operation Smile opens World’s Largest Cleft Care Center in Cebu

PHILIPPINES—Operation Smile Philippines has launched the world’s largest cleft care centre at the Cebu City Memorial Medical Center (CCMC).

The announcement was made during the soft opening of the Cebu Comprehensive Cleft Care Center of Excellence, a joint effort between Operation Smile Philippines, Operation Smile International, and the Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung (MSY) Charitable Foundation Inc.

This new centre offers comprehensive cleft care at no cost to patients, covering everything from medical supplies and patient care to transportation, meals, and lodging for both patients and their families.

The impressive 2,000 square meters (approximately 20,000 square feet) facility is equipped with five operating rooms, 20 pre-operation beds, and 20 post-operation beds, making it one of the most well-resourced cleft care units globally.

At its official opening next month, the center will initially serve 100 patients, ages 6 months to 51 years, from 12 local government units (LGUs) across Cebu.

These include Cebu City, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Compostela, Danao City, Mandaue City, Bogo City, San Remegio, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Lapu-Lapu City, and San Francisco, Camotes Island.

As the program progresses, the center aims to provide care to up to 160 patients per month, potentially reaching as many as 2,000 patients annually.

Cebu City Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia expressed his amazement at how the once-vacant seventh floor of CCMC had been transformed into a state-of-the-art medical facility.

He praised the project as a testament to the power of unity and collaboration in achieving a shared vision, emphasising that this new centre is a landmark accomplishment for Cebu and cleft care worldwide.

Kevin Thor, Director of Global Project Development at Operation Smile headquarters, described the opening as just the beginning.

He revealed that Operation Smile plans to expand partnerships with LGUs across Cebu Province and with other organizations to ensure that as many families as possible can access the center’s services.

The center’s realisation is largely thanks to Cebuana philanthropist and businesswoman Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, who played a crucial role in the project through her MSY Charitable Foundation.

Yeung acknowledged that the center was initially scheduled to open in December 2023, but unavoidable delays pushed the launch date forward.

She expressed her gratitude to the numerous donors, most of whom are her close friends, for their unwavering support in making this dream a reality.

Martin Yeung, OSP Board member and head of the MSY Foundation, shared how the cleft care center started from “ground zero.”

He explained that the vision for the center began over a decade ago, with CCMC chosen as the ideal location from the start.

He praised the quality of the facility, emphasizing that every peso spent was used wisely to ensure the best possible patient care.

While the exact budget for the project was not disclosed, Yeung underscored the significant investment made through the Public-Private partnership to deliver top-tier services.

 OSP Board of Trustees president Donald Lim also highlighted the transformative impact the center will have on patients’ lives.

He acknowledged that while cleft conditions are often seen as non-life-threatening, they can profoundly affect the quality of life, and the center is dedicated to making a lasting difference.

Operation Smile’s new center in Cebu is expected to provide cleft care to thousands of children and enhance medical education, improving access to cleft care across the Visayas region.

 Founded by William Magee and co-founded by Kathy Magee, Operation Smile has been supporting Filipinos with cleft lip and palate for over 46 years, and its work in Cebu, in collaboration with the MSY Charitable Foundation, has crossed 26 years.