VIDEO: After two years of searching for surgery for his daughter Karla, hope returned to Ángel when he learned about an Operation Smile medical mission.

Rodney and MJ Kapunan have dedicated their lives to helping others at home and abroad. As nurses, they have participating in more than 30 Operation Smile surgical missions, transforming lives of patients with cleft conditions.

Operation Smile has witnessed how the lack of adequately trained health care professionals creates dangerous barriers to care, preventing older patients like Teofilo and Paulina from accessing timely surgery. During the March Champion Program in Bolivia, mentors paired up with eager mentees to help address this need.

This year on World Health Day, we’re drawing attention to the goal of motivating action to tackle the health challenges of today and tomorrow with the theme of “Health For All.”

Years after receiving their cleft surgeries from Operation Smile, Ake, Folksong and Beam are living happier and healthier lives. Here are their stories.

Volunteers, staff, donors, patients and their families gathered together in Guatemala City to celebrate the grand opening of the Bill and Kathy Magee Comprehensive Care Center.

Malnutrition contributes to the deaths of 3.1 million children less than 5 years old annually. Operation Smile patients born with cleft conditions are especially vulnerable, which is why we have established nutrition programs in 24 countries around the world.

Alfred’s life was full of love and happiness as a husband and father. At 52 years old, Alfred believed he’d experienced the most he could out of life. But little did he know there was something greater headed his way.

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Operation Smile and our global partners are honoring the importance of health equity for women by launching our Health Equity Heroes campaign.