Additional Operations for More Complex Cases in the Next Few Weeks
Abu Dhabi: The most recent mission of Operation Smile UAE, co-sponsored by Abu Dhabi based Gulf Capital and currently underway in Jordan, has so far conducted free corrective surgeries on 73 children born with facial deformities, including cleft lips and cleft palates. Other more complicated cases will be operated on by the international and Jordanian medical team of volunteers following further investigation and treatments.
The 45-strong member mission, all of whom are volunteers, flew to Jordan from the UAE and other parts of the world at the end of last week, to join Jordanian volunteers in offering life-changing surgeries to these children and their parents.
"I can happily report that all of the procedures went well, and parents and children are joyful," said Morag Cromey-Hawke, Executive Director of Operation Smile UAE, from Jordan. "We had single surgeries for children with cleft lips and cleft palates, but in some cases more than one procedure to benefit the child had to be done."
Operation Smile UAE is the initiative of the patron of the UAE chapter of the global charity Operation Smile, Her Highness Shaikha Al Yaziya Bint Saif Al Nahyan, wife of Minister of Foreign Affairs, his Highness Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Since its inception 18 months ago, the UAE Charity has brought "Smiles" to over 550 children through the funding of six different missions around the world including Morocco, China, and the Philippines.
Three medical volunteers from the UAE, including Dr Simon Chummar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon from NMC Specialty Hospital in Dubai, Dr Simon Malek, Paediatrician at City Hospital in Dubai and Marilyn Parro, Recovery Room Nurse at Al Ain Hospital were also on the mission.
Morag Cromey-Hawke added: "Children who are born with a cleft lip or cleft palate are faced with challenges many of us cannot ever imagine. From simply not being able to be properly fed, which could be life-threatening for a newborn, to being laughed at and teased in school or even suffer total rejection from parents or loved ones who do struggle to understand their child's condition, children born with facial deformities can sometimes endure lifetime shame and social exclusion. This shouldn't be the case,"
Operation Smile UAE gives hope to these children and their parents by offering free surgeries and follow-up treatments. This is made possible through the generosity of the local community, both individual and corporates. The Jordan Mission was co-sponsored by Gulf Capital which launched an employee matching scheme to raise funds for these surgeries. The Firm and its employees raised funds to support 120 surgeries in the Jordan mission. For every "Full Smile", or the cost of a surgery donated by employees, Gulf Capital matched it with an equal donation.
Dr Karim El Solh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Capital said: "Corrective surgeries for children born with cleft lift and cleft palates give children a new smile but, more importantly, offer them a new way of life which, for most of them is life-changing. It is very rewarding to see Gulf Capital employees, their families and friends, come together to support this noble and worthy cause, and the efforts of the UAE Chapter of the international organisation. Knowing that Operations Smile UAE will bring 120 "Smiles" to these children and their families in Jordan is gratifying to all of us at Gulf Capital."
Gulf Capital's donation contributes to approximately a third of the Jordan mission's total cost. Other costs include equipment, training costs, travel expenses, costs, operation theatres, etc.
The Mission will also train resident surgeons, pediatricians, nurses, speech therapists and other volunteers from the medical and non-medical community from Jordan and around the world to ensure that the good work will be sustained around the world.
About Operation Smile UAE
Operation Smile is an international children's charity committed to saving lives and allowing children with clefts to smile properly for the first time. We do this by providing free surgeries and after care to those affected. Since our founding in 1982 we have provided more than 200,000 free surgeries to children and young adults around the world and over 2 million comprehensive healthcare evaluations. We have held several fund raising events in the UAE which have helped to raise much needed funds. We also have a busy program of volunteer recruitment as we credential and mobilise medical volunteers for attending overseas missions. In addition to this we have recruited hundreds of volunteers with a wide variety of other expertise to help with every aspect of our organisation. As well as raising funds to carry out overseas missions we put a lot of effort into creating a big social impact here in the UAE. We work hard to increase awareness and raise our profile, to inspire action and to actively participate in our local health communities.
About Gulf Capital
Gulf Capital is a leading alternative investment company focused primarily on investing capital in the GCC region. Incorporated in Abu Dhabi in 2006 as a Private Joint Stock Company, Gulf Capital was established with a capital base of AED 1.225 billion (USD 330 million) from 300 of the most prestigious institutional and individual investors in the Gulf. The Firm is currently investing its $533 million GC Equity Fund II, raised from regional and global investors. It is focused on acquiring sizeable and controlling stakes in highly profitable and rapidly growing companies within a select number of fast-growing industries in the GCC region. Gulf Capital was awarded the "Best Private Equity in the Middle East" Award by Banker Magazine in 2011. Gulf Capital expanded its alternative asset management platform by entering into the real estate development arena in a joint-venture with the Related Companies, the most prominent US real estate developer, to form Gulf Related. The Firm also recently announced the launch of a Credit and Mezzanine Business to meet the financing needs of fast growing companies across the region. With its private equity, real estate and credit initiatives, Gulf Capital is today one of the largest alternative asset managers in the Middle East. For more information about Gulf Capital, please visit www.gulfcapital.com.
Issued by Borouj Consulting on behalf of Gulf Capital. For more information, please contact: Randa Mazzawi or Zeeshan Masud at Tel: +9714 3403005, e-mail: randa@boroujconsulting.com, Zeeshan@boroujconsulting.com
© Press Release 2012
