A Teenager Finds Her Confidence

Born with a cleft condition, her early school years were difficult.

The confident young woman we meet today is a striking contrast to the shy girl who once hesitated to speak up and faced bullying. Narya wasn’t accepted by the other children because of her differences, who often teased her or imitated her speech. . 

When Nayra was 6 years old, she had her first surgery at an Operation Smile partner hospital in Mahajanga and a second one when she was 15.

Madagascar faces a critical shortage of medical providers in rural areas, with many doctors migrating to urban centers in search of better-paying jobs. At the national level, there is only one specialist surgical worker per 100,000 people benefits of Operation 100 coming to life.

What is Operation 100?

1. It’s our bold commitment to bring care closer to the communities we serve, starting by equipping 100 cleft operative teams with advanced skills, essential equipment and enhanced infrastructure across 100 hospitals.
2. It uses education as a force multiplier, providing training and mentorship opportunities to health care providers so they are able to work in their own communities.
3. It closes the distance patients need to travel for essential care. We’re breaking down barriers to surgical care and advancing health equity, so no one is left behind.