Mission Report

Morocco

Laayoune, Morocco: April 29 - May 7, 2004

This was the first medical mission Operation Smile has conducted in Laayoune in the Hospital Hassan II. This site was added to help children and young adults in southern Morocco in need of surgery to repair facial deformities. The international team was composed of 40 volunteers from seven different nations including Morocco, Italy, Venezuela, the Philippines, Canada, Panama and the United States. Evaluations were given to 471 patients suffering from cleft lips, cleft palates, burns and scars. The team provided free life-changing surgeries to 150 patients. The hospital provided staff members day and night and ensured that all aspects of the mission ran smoothly. The governor of the region hosted a wonderful lunch for the entire mission team. Several speeches praising Operation Smile's work in Laayoune, were made on the part of regional dignitaries.

First international mission: 1998
International mission sites: Agadir, Casablanca, Laayoune, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier