A group of about 23 medical practitioners from Canada are set to fly to Kenya for a life-changing mission in Mombasa County.
The group of medics volunteering with Operation Rainbow Canada whose mission is to offer reconstructive surgery and health care for cleft lip and cleft palate deformities to needy children in developing countries.
Notably, this mission is the first since the pandemic in 2020 which disrupted normal operations.
The timeline for the team's travel is yet to be communicated. However, once they arrive, children with the said deformities will receive free surgeries.
One of the medics, Dr Kimit Rai a cosmetic surgeon, founder and president of the organisation explained that the team will be conducting reconstructive surgeries for children with cleft palates and other facial deformities.
"We fix the children and it's very emotional. I felt touched in my heart and it feels good to help people. I am excited for this trip," he remarked.
Additionally, Rai noted that the organisation was set to provide new smiles to over 2,000 children to create a happier world. He added, "It's not a financial benefit. It's emotional and a real sense of feeling good that you did good for someone."
Another medical practitioner who is part of the team, Ryan Kean, a nurse remarked that the mission was humbling and rewarding.
The nurse noted that some of the affected children were living in remote areas forcing them to travel long distances to access the free health care services from the foreign team.
"They are so appreciative, they feel so rewarded that we're there to provide this opportunity that they may not get for a long time," Kean added.
While in Kenya, the medics including surgeons, nurses and medical assistants will be at a local hospital for 10 days.
According to the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), cleft lip and palate is the most common birth defect in Kenya. However, most parents cannot afford the necessary surgery which leads to the child living a life of stigma and discrimination.
Several non-profit organisations and other companies have taken the initiative to put smiles on the faces of children suffering from this condition countrywide.
