Five hundred more Chinese kids with cleft palates are expected to be able to smile and speak as normal kids soon with the help of a charity surgery program.

Under the Operation Smile China program, the 500 kids will undergo free complimentary reconstruction facial surgeries at the Gulou Hospital, based in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, hospital sources said.

But, the hospital sources did not disclose the specific operation time because selection of kids who are suitable for surgery takes time.

Gulou Hospital, where the headquarters of the Operation Smile Center of China is based, has successfully conducted surgeries on 1,796 kids with cleft palates over the past 10 years. Funds used in the surgeries are from social donations.

Cleft palate is one of the most common congenital birth defects. One out of every 550 newborns is with cleft palates in China.

Initiated in 1991, Operation Smile China Program is under the support of the Operation Smile International, an international non-profit volunteer organization. The program operators have cooperated with hospitals in more than 20 Chinese provinces and cities in carrying out operations on Chinese kids with cleft palates in the past 15 years. With the help of the program, 8,200 Chinese kids have been able to speak and smile like normal kids.

Operation Smile International has provided free operations to 100,000 children worldwide since it was established by U.S. surgeons in 1982.

Source: Xinhua