HÀ NỘI — General Motors Việt Nam’s Chevrolet brand is joining hands with Operation Smile Việt Nam to provide medical checkups and reconstructive surgery to some 50 children in Việt Nam.

The surgery, for kids born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities, is being performed in Hà Nội by medical professionals from the Việt Nam-Cuba Friendship Hospital from November 20 to 24. Chevrolet is also providing transportation, meal allowances and accommodations for patients.

This is the fourth time that GM Việt Nam is joining hands with Operation Smile Việt Nam’s mission to bring smiles to more than 200 children with facial deformities from 2013.

“Chevrolet has made a commitment to serve and improve communities in which we live and work,” said GM Việt Nam Sales and Marketing General Director, Lê Thanh Mai.

Approximately one in 700 children worldwide are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate or both, and every three minutes a child is born with these conditions. A large number of children from Việt Nam are impacted, while some 15,000 children nationwide are not treated.

Children born with a cleft lip or cleft palate have twice the odds of dying before their first birthday. They also suffer a multitude of medical problems, including chronic ear infections, malnutrition, respiratory ailments, dental problems and difficulties with speech development.

In as little as 45 minutes, a single surgery can change a child’s life forever.

“We have reached approximately 2,000 patients through 30 missions each year. Up to now, more than 40,000 life-changing surgeries have already been performed and we will not stop until we heal every child. With the support of GM Việt Nam and Chevrolet, we believe that we will make our dream a reality,” said Nguyễn Thị Hải Đức, programme director of Operation Smile Việt Nam.

GM Việt Nam and Chevrolet are engaged in a broad range of social and charitable activities to benefit the local community. — VNS