The medical team from Korea University Medical Center supported surgeries for children with cleft lip and palate through medical volunteer work in Myanmar.

On the 15th, Korea University Ansan Hospital announced that its plastic surgery medical team visited Yangon, Myanmar, and performed surgeries on 26 children with cleft lip and palate from the 17th to the 22nd of last month. The volunteer team included Kim Deok-woo and Yoo Hee-jin, professors of plastic surgery at Korea University Ansan Hospital, and Jeong Jae-ho and Park Ho-jin, professors of plastic surgery at Korea University Anam Hospital, as well as nurses Park Hye-soo and Yoon So-jeong from the operating room at Korea University Anam Hospital, totaling six participants.

Cleft lip and palate is a congenital deformity that occurs when the tissues of the lips, nose, and palate do not fuse during the early fetal development stage. It is divided into cleft lip, where the upper lip is split, and cleft palate, where the palate is split. It is important to perform surgery for cleft lip around 3 months after birth and for cleft palate around 12 months. If surgery is not performed in time, the child may face difficulties in feeding and, as they grow, may experience challenges in pronunciation or language development.

The 26 children treated by the medical team during this volunteer work were aged between 2 and 13 years, all of whom missed the appropriate treatment period. Professor Yoo stated, "Due to the poor medical facilities in Myanmar, it was risky to anesthetize and operate on young infants," adding, "Through surgery, children with cleft palate can resolve discomfort and have the potential for improved pronunciation, while those with cleft lip can achieve external improvement and gain confidence."

Since 2012, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Korea University College of Medicine, led by Professor Kim, has been continuously performing cleft lip and palate surgeries for children in Myanmar. Professors and residents from the plastic surgery departments of Korea University Medical Center's Anam, Guro, and Ansan Hospitals have visited various regions in Myanmar 1 to 3 times annually to conduct surgeries. The medical team bears the costs of surgical equipment, medications, and airfare. To date, approximately 250 patients have regained their smiles through these surgeries. In 2023, Korea University Medical Center and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the foundation for volunteer activities.

Professor Kim stated, "The medical team from Korea University Medical Center has consistently visited overseas medically underserved areas to impart positive influence," adding, "We will continue to do our best to provide new hope for life to children in need of help."

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