Latter-day Saints Help Restore 30 Smiles in Peru

Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free medical services to patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate, successfully concluded its first surgical campaign of 2026 in Peru.

The campaign concluded on January 26 at Dos de Mayo National Hospital in Lima, where reconstructive surgeries restored the smiles of 30 children. The effort builds on the 467 surgeries performed nationwide in 2025.

The surgeries were made possible by hundreds of volunteers, including doctors, nurses and technical and administrative staff who served in specialized roles throughout the program. Among them were more than 55 service volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including full-time missionaries and members in Lima and Callao.

Reflecting on the campaign, Operation Smile Regional Director Lizet Campos said, “Thank you for your commitment and dedication to continuing to provide safe surgeries and comprehensive care for our patients. Together, we will continue transforming lives.”

The team provided evaluations and care across several specialized areas, including speech therapy, dentistry, psychology, nutrition, biomedical services, nursing, anesthesiology, plastic surgery and pediatrics. This multidisciplinary approach ensured safe, comprehensive care for each patient.

This project continues Operation Smile’s more than 20 years of service in Peru, transforming the lives and smiles of hundreds of children.

The Church of Jesus Christ has worked with Operation Smile around the world to provide care for children suffering from this condition since 1991.