Operation Smile Celebrates the Incredible Women Leading the Way in Cleft Surgery

Operation Smile SA believes that health science thrives when it’s fuelled by the brilliance of women – a truth they celebrate and champion on International Day of Women and Girls in Science and every day!

South Africa (12 February 2026) – Celebrated each year on 11 February since its proclamation by the United Nations in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science celebrates the brilliant contributions of women to the field and is a reminder that global progress depends on science and gender equality moving forward hand-in-hand.

At Operation Smile South Africa, this isn’t just a date on the calendar. It’s a mission they honour every day.

Through the organisation’s Women in Medicine (WIM) Initiative, Operation Smile supports educational pathways, mentorship and training opportunities for women in the health workforce – locally and globally.

The initiative does so by educating women on advanced medical practices, equipping them to become leaders in global medicine, expanding opportunities for women health care workers and elevating cleft surgery and comprehensive care.

WIM doesn’t just impact the women who participate in it, but also the patients they treat and their families. Many parents have expressed that seeing an all-women medical team gave them the newfound confidence to seek out the care their children deserve.

“By empowering women with advanced medical training, leadership development and career opportunities, we help strengthen health systems and improve access to safe surgery, especially in low- and middle-income settings like our region,” Operation Smile SA says.

“On #InternationalDayofWomenandGirlsinScience, and every day, we celebrate the women and girls shaping the future of healthcare and science in South Africa and across the world. Their knowledge, skill and leadership are critical to expanding access to life-changing cleft care and other essential surgical services for children and families in our communities.”

Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.

Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.