Uzbek Children Smile Again

A project of plastic surgery under motto “Smile of Children – Happy Families” has been implemented in Uzbekistan since 2009 organized in cooperation with Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), Uzbekistan Health Ministry and Sog'lom Avlod Uchun Foundation.

The eight campaign was held in Fergana. About 380 children and youth at the age up to 24 underwent medical examination and 139 children with congenital anomalies (cleft lip, cleft palate, and burn marks) underwent surgery within the campaign.

19 doctors and nurses from plastic surgery departments of Turkish universities and public hospitals led by Ministry of Health General Directorate of EU and Foreign Affairs Head of Department Dr. Selami Kılıç conducted operations. Children from Namangan, Andijan, Fergana and other regions of Uzbekistan were operated.

During the opening ceremony of the event Dr. Selami Kılıç said: “We are proud that the eight campaign, organized by motto “Smile of children – Happy Families” is organized in historic center of science and culture in Fergana.” Kılıç restated that TİKA helps to strengthen relations between Uzbekistan and Turkey. The project on plastic surgery is one of important projects in healthcare sector.

Deputy Governor of Fergana region Tulkinoy Tadjiyeva said that “TIKA implements important projects in healthcare sector and we are proud that the project takes place in Namangan in 2016” and expressed gratitude to TİKA personnel and Turkish doctors for their hard work.

TİKA Taşkent Program Coordinator Prof. Süleyman Kızıltoprak indicated the significance of the project and said “we are happy to conduct plastic surgeries at the one of the most important centers of civilization and science in Uzbekistan for the eight time. It is important to hold such campaigns to exchange experience between specialists of two nations.” He expressed his gratitude to the all Uzbek and Turkish doctors for their devoted work and to all relatives of children for their warm welcome.

The project on plastic surgery has been held since 2009 and 1,700 children underwent medical examinations and 580 children underwent surgery.