21 May, 2012
For immediate release
Sponsor to operate on children
26 Children to receive facial reconstructive surgery during SHM Group of Companies
Smile Week
Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa;
In a first for The Smile Foundation, a financial donor will be performing surgeries during a
Smile Week.
Dr. Ridwan Mia, a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, is one of the surgeons that will be
operating during SHM Group of Companies Smile Week.
His father is Mr. Sayed Mia, the chairperson of the SHM Group of Companies.
SHM Group of Companies is the main sponsor behind this Smile Week.
This Smile Week is held from 21 - 25 May at the Dr. George Mukhari hospital in GaRankuwa.
This is the second largest public hospital in the country.
Says Mr. Mia: “Personal involvement is part of our family strategy and commitment. Besides
donating, we are always practically and actively involved in every charity we support. We
feel that if you donate money, you are giving something, but when you give your time, you
are really giving.” “Dr Ridwan Mia, Dr Reza Mia and Mr Sayed Mia and the SHM Group
have been actively supporting the Smile Foundation in various ways for many years.”
Moira Gerszt Chief Operating Officer of Smile Foundation says: “Due to the longstanding
association with the Mia Family, Dr. Ridwan Mia can now give back both surgically and
financially.”
Gerszt said: “It is particularly heart-warming that the SHM Group of Companies is willing to
support an academic institution that is so remote and inaccessible.
According to Gerszt the need in these communities is immense, due to the hospital’s large
catchment area.
Says Gerszt: “Due to the remote location of the hospital - 90km away from Johannesburg
and 36km from Pretoria - this hospital treats patients from the townships Ga-Rankuwa,
Soshanguve, and Mabopane, to as far as Limpopo and the North West. In addition, these
communities are far removed from the urban areas and from assistance from other NGO’s,”
she said.
The Smile Foundation has been partnering with academic hospitals in South Africa for over
11 years to help underprivileged children with facial conditions, alleviating backlogs in the
hospitals, encouraging skills transfer, offering psychological help before and after surgery
and supporting hospital infrastructure. For example, Smile Foundation has just donated a
state of the art theatre bed valued at over R350 000 to Dr. George Mukhari Hospital. This
will be used for the first time during SHM Group of Companies Smile Week.
The success of the Smile Week model has been widespread. To date, almost 1000 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.