On October 30, 2012, the Chargée d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Sierra Leone, Kathleen FitzGibbon, met with two members of the Women for World Health (WWH) organization, a U.S.-based health organization. A team of medical professionals from around the world will arrive in Sierra Leone later this week to provide approximately 80 free cleft lip and other facial deformity surgeries.

The organization made a courtesy call on the chargée at the U.S. Embassy in Freetown. This is the second time in as many years that the organization has picked Sierra Leone as the country to receive its services.

FitzGibbon welcomed members of the WWH and expressed appreciation to the volunteers. She said such interventions meet the needs of countries like Sierra Leone thus reiterating her support to such initiatives.

Volunteer Coordinator for WWH, Linda Lafourcade, said they are currently in the country on a reconstructive surgery mission. She explained that the free cleft lips and other facial deformity surgeries will be done on children and young adults. She informed that they will be based in Makeni at the Holy Spirit Hospital from November 2-8.

Lafourcade said patient screening has already started but encouraged those who would like to receive the services to contact the organization directly at 033-848-349 or 076-722-802 for a pre-screening.

WWH was co-founded by Denise Cucurny and Dr. Amy Wandel. The organization annually provides services to one selected country to improve the lives of people through medical and educational assistance.