Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital’s Smile Week Transforms 16 Lives

Sixteen children in KwaZulu-Natal received life-changing surgeries during the Smile Foundation’s first-ever Smile Week at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. The initiative, which ran from October 20 to 24, 2025, provided free operations to correct cleft lip and palate conditions.

This landmark Smile Week offered a new beginning for young patients like nine-month-old Lwenkosi, who was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. The procedures not only restore facial aesthetics but also dramatically improve essential functions like feeding and speech development.

Building Surgical Expertise for the Future

A core component of this Smile Week was its focus on skills development. The program, led by Prof Mahendra Daya and Dr Khumalo, provided specialized training for registrars and anaesthetists. This hands-on approach offers emerging medical professionals consolidated experience in complex reconstructive surgeries, building vital long-term capacity within the public healthcare sector.

Tshidi Chabane-Xaba, COO of Smile Foundation, highlighted the importance of collaboration. She explained that partnerships help overcome budget constraints that often limit surgical slots in public health. The Smile Week model enables more procedures while simultaneously training the next generation of specialists.

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Corporate Partnership Amplifies Impact

Adcock Ingram, the supporting partner for the initiative, underscored the dual benefit of combining service delivery with training. Nkosinathi Mthethwa, Group Executive Public Affairs, stated that this approach creates a sustainable impact, helping to build a stronger public healthcare system for South Africa.

The success of this Smile Week demonstrates the powerful outcomes achievable when non-profits, corporate partners, and dedicated medical professionals unite. Together, they are not just creating new smiles; they are fostering a brighter future for specialized pediatric care in the region.