Corporate Social Review Magazine 1st Quarter 2012 | Page 60

The Smile Week is a major reconstructive surgical week that
involves mobilizing two operating
theatres, wherein between 15 and
40 surgeries take place.
During these Smile Weeks the
children’s ward is a hive of activity!
The week commences with surgery early on Monday morning and
continues throughout the week. A
Press Launch day is held early in
the week, during which donors, celebrities and members of the media
are invited to come into the hospital and experience the joy associated with helping children to smile.
The week also includes a children’s party where the foundation
provides entertainment and party
packs for the children who have
undergone surgery. Finally on Friday, the last of the patients are operated on and those who are able
to are discharged and sent home
– their lives changed forever.

So Much More than Just
Surgery …
The Smile Foundation offers assistance in a holistic manner and
this includes not only the surgical
element, but also incorporates
transportation to the hospital, accommodation (where necessary)
and pre and post-operative support.

Look at our smiles! The SHM Group of Companies hosted an event to put
smiles on childrens’ faces – featured Professor George Psaras, Marc Lubner
– Co-Founders, and Mr Sayed Mia and sons.

Pre and Post Operative
Auxiliary Services
There is an increased focus and
understanding of the psychological and social needs of patients
and their families, and in keeping
with the Smile Foundation’s objective of offering holistic care, greater focus is now being placed on
this aspect. A child friendly system
has been developed to reduce the
children’s fear of surgery with services ranging from a proper induction and explanation of their procedure through role playing prior
to surgery and an programme that
ensures that the child leaves the
hospital with a great understanding of their experience.Paediatric
trauma prevention skills can also
be made available to all workers in
the health care system.
In addition to these psychological services that Smile Foundation also ensure that patients
receivemuch needed postoperative services such as
Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy whenever they are
required.

Medical Staff- Skills
Development

Madiba and Thando

58

A Smile Foundation priority is
the development of sustainable
relationships within the public
health services sector where

CORPORATE SOCIAL REVIEW

operations are undertaken. To create effective working relationships
medical staff members such as
surgeons, theatre staff and nurses
are offered training in various areas to expand their skills base. In
this way the patients and the staff
at these hopsitals all derive benefits from the Smile Foundation’s
efforts.

Upgrading of Equipment
and Facilities
The Smile Foundation also assists
with upgrading of existing facilities,
as well as the acquisition of equipment used by the Departments of
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. To date, millions of rands
have been spent in partner public
hospitals around South Africa.