05 March, 2012
For immediate release
Record Amount of children treated for burn wounds during Vodacom Smile
Week
Smile Foundation sees dramatic increase in children with burn wounds requiring
treatment.
Johannesburg, South Africa;
Smile Foundation has noted a distressing increase of children with burn wounds.
In past years an average of 10% of children per annum that received reconstructive surgery
from Smile Foundation, were burn victims. “ This Smile Week however, over 60% of the
patients receiving reconstructive surgery, are burns related, says Moira Gerszt, Chief
Operating Officer of Smile Foundation.
What is more, is that this record amount of children will be assisted in one week –the
Vodacom Smile Week, held from 05-09 March at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic
Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
“There are constantly patients requiring burns related surgery, however this Smile Week
includes the most burns patients we’ve assisted in one week,” says Gerszt.
During this Smile Week made possible through the continued generous funding from
Vodacom, 28 children will receive life-changing reconstructive surgery. Three of these
children will receive facial reanimation surgery at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg
Academic Hospital, whilst 15 of the remaining 25 will receive facial reconstructive surgery
related to burn incidents at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto,
Johannesburg.
The Reanimation surgeries at Charlotte Maxeke will be performed by Prof. George Psaras,
renowned plastic surgeon and Medical Director of Smile Foundation.
“The most common causes of burns that Smile Foundation has encountered, were caused
through shack fires or children being burnt by boiling water.” According to Gerszt, these
children face a life of victimisation and are ostracised by their community and peers and
even family members.
Gerszt says some caregivers are under the misguided notion that a child needs only one
surgery to recover from a burns incident. “It is impossible to say how many surgeries a burns
victim will need, but Smile Foundation has seen cases where one particular patient needed
12 surgeries. This is a medical decision made by the surgeon in the best interest of the
patient, and realistic expectations by the patient and family members need to be carefully
managed. Smile Foundation does not only provide the surgery, but walks alongside patients
down this traumatic but hopeful road. “We assist patients and families with pre- and post
operative psychological counseling, referral to the clinic or facility for ongoing psychotherapy,
post-operative physiotherapy, transportation to and from the hospital, meals and
accommodation where necessary,” said Gerszt.
Mthobi Tyamzashe, Executive Director of CSI at Vodacom, says, “We are proud of our long
standing association with the Smile Foundation, which has seen many children, disfigured
through burns, having access to top rate medical operations. In South Africa, burns are
amongst the leading causes of injury amongst children, and whilst much education and work
needs to be done to prevent these types of injuries, we are heartened that our modest
contribution has the potential to make a positive difference and change their lives for the
better.”
The Smile Foundation has been partnering with academic hospitals in South Africa to help
underprivileged children with facial conditions, alleviating backlogs in the hospitals,
encouraging skills transfer, and offering psychological help before and after surgery and
supporting the hospital infrastructure.
The success of the Smile Week model has been widespread. To date, almost 900 children
have benefited from surgeries around the country through the partnership with state
academic hospitals.
-ENDS-
For press enquiries, contact:
Sanri van Wyk
Taryn Fritz Public Relations
Tel: +27 (11) 888 8548
Fax: +27 (11) 888 7338
Cell: +27 72 333 1011
Email: sanri@tarynfritzpr.co.za
About The Smile Foundation:
We’re About Putting Smiles on the Faces of Children in South Africa!
The Smile Foundation is a South African NGO that assists children with any type of facial conditions,
to receive free corrective Plastic and Reconstructive surgery within South Africa. We help children
who suffer from treatable facial abnormalities such as Cleft Lip and Palate, burn victims, Moebius
syndrome (facial paralysis) and other conditions. We are currently based in 7 Academic Hospitals
around South Africa. We are investing in the medical teams we work with, through a Skills
Development programme, and we assist the hospitals by purchasing equipment for use by the
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Our Chief Patron Nelson Mandela’s wish is for us
to assist as many children around South Africa as possible to alleviate the stigma attached to living
with facial condition. For more information, contact the Smile Foundation on
www.smilefoundation.co.za or 0861ASMILE. Make a donation today! Help put a smile on a child’s
face today! SMS “Smile” to 38413 to donate R10.