Global Health Equity
Where you live shouldn’t determine if you live. We are committed to strengthening health systems to increase equitable access to health care, ensuring every child has access to safe and timely essential surgery.
What Causes Health Inequity?
While global health inequity is a complex issue, it’s largely due to a lack of trained healthcare providers and unsafe living conditions in underserved areas. This forces people to wait for care — sometimes for years — making them more vulnerable to disease and death.
Operation Smile is paving the path to global health equity and ensuring more patients get the care they need.
“The child with a cleft condition took us back to the community, to show us the need and get us to pay attention to the health care system.”
— Dr. Bill Magee, Co-Founder and CEO Emeritus of Operation Smile
How Do We Achieve Global Health Equity?
Our 40+ years of experience have taught us that it takes more than one doctor’s visit to change lives. We build local teams to provide ongoing care. Strategic partnerships with hospitals, governments, NGOs and donors multiply our impact.
Global Effort, Global Change
With foundations and offices in more than 40 countries, Operation Smile works with local health care providers, governments and hospitals to deliver transformative surgical care.
See Where We Work
Health Workforce Strengthening
If one surgeon can change a child’s life, imagine what we can achieve if we train an entire health workforce. Operation Smile educates local providers to foster self-sufficient systems that ensure our work lasts.
Learn about Health Workforce Strengthening
Youth Empowerment
From student clubs to surgical programs, our youth empowerment opportunities engage the next generation of leaders and instill a commitment to global health that lasts a lifetime.
Explore Youth Programs
Policy and Advocacy
We work with national governments and local officials to build national surgical, obstetric and anesthesia plans.
Discover Our Policy and Advocacy
Donors and Partnerships
We can’t do it alone. With the generous support of donors and corporate partners, Operation Smile can continue to bridge the gap in access to essential surgeries and health care.
Explore Ways to GiveCase Study: Rwanda
Since 2010, Operation Smile has treated more than 2,000 patients with cleft conditions in Rwanda. Local workforce training and partnerships continue to ensure access to safe surgery.
13m
Population of Rwanda
150%
Increase in Certified Plastic Surgeons in Rwanda
22
Number of General Surgeons Trained in Plastic Surgery Techniques