For ten days in March 2026, Operation International’s Cleft Repair Team will return to Houaphanh, Laos for its second surgical mission. Houaphanh is an extremely underserved province due to geographic isolation and widespread poverty. Our team seeks to provide life changing cleft lip and palate repairs for patients who would otherwise have no access to specialized surgical care.
Untreated cleft lip and palate leads to lifelong feeding and speech difficulties, social isolation and reduced economic opportunity. These surgeries are typically performed in the first year of life, however in Houaphanh there are many adult patients who have been unable to access these operations.
Our team plans to perform cleft repairs on 60 patients, which will have an immediate life-changing impact. We also plan to work closely with local surgeons, physicians and nurses to share practical skills to allow for continued care.
Our team completed 69 cleft procedures over the course of 5 operative days in Houaphanh, Laos. The ages of the patients ranged considerably, from infancy to elderhood, with many traveling long distances. Our team included anesthesiologists and primary care physicians to ensure optimal safety. The hospital staff proved wonderful hosts, and helped make the workflow seamless.
