Malaysian NGO Helps Cambodians Smile Again Despite Facial Deformities

PHNOM PENH: A former Malaysian bank employee has transformed into a social worker, now spreading happiness among rural Cambodians who were earlier marginalized due to genetic facial abnormalities.

Kids and grown-ups who previously dealt with conditions like cleft lips and palates can now grin assuredly and socialize with their loved ones without worrying about being judged.

The significant metamorphosis can be attributed mainly to 65-year-old Chan Kok Choy, the vice-chairman and executive director of Smile Cambodia. He has steadfastly guided his team through various surgical missions.

Seeing these patients smile once more fills me with joy. Treating cleft lips and palate abnormalities isn’t complicated; it usually takes just one hour, followed by quick recuperation, as Chan mentioned to Bernama in the city lately.

Chan, who formerly led a prominent Malaysian bank in Phnom Penh and subsequently directed a Cambodian financial institution, has been overseeing Smile Cambodia since 2015.

The NGO is a member of Smile Asia an international coalition of charitable organizations that offers complimentary surgeries to kids suffering from cleft lips, cleft palates, and various facial abnormalities.

Smile Cambodia came into being following the closure of Operation Smile Cambodia, which stopped operating in the nation at the beginning of 2015. Chan held the position of chairman at Operation Smile Cambodia as well.

Together, Operation Smile and Smile Cambodia have carried out almost 5,700 surgical procedures. Independently, Smile Cambodia has offered free operations to more than 2,085 Cambodians aged between three months and 81 years.

Given these procedures dramatically alter their looks, they show great appreciation, which is truly heartwarming, according to Chan.

Earlier this month, Smile Cambodia conducted its third mission of the year at the Kampot Provincial Referral Hospital in the Kampot province.

During this three-day mission, 45 patients were screened and 30 received life-changing operations with success. The others were either too young or did not meet our minimum criteria for a safe surgical procedure, explained Chan, who grew up in Kampar, Perak.

In addition to the free surgeries, Smile Cambodia provides speech therapists and orthodontists to support those in post-surgery recovery.

We want to improve their speech capabilities, Chan explained. The patients also suffer from speech defects, and many children have low self-esteem because of this.

In the coming years, the organization intends to broaden its service offerings to encompass treatments for various conditions, including microtia—a malformation of the external ear—and burns.

Discover more by exploring Smile Cambodia's website. website and keep up with them on Facebook and Instagram .