Children in Liberia afflicted by facial deformities and other pediatric conditions are poised to smile soon thanks to the American medical charity group, Children's Surgery, which

arrived here Friday for its fourth medical mission to perform free corrective surgeries on children screened and registered at the Firestone Medical Center at Duside.

According to Mr. Rufus Karmo, public relations manager for Firestone, the medical team which was on a similar mission here early this year, will perform the corrective surgeries for one week in close collaboration with medical personnel assigned at Duside Hospital.

The 25 American doctors and nurses, in collaboration with their Firestone counterparts performed nearly 100 surgeries on kids and young people during their last visit.

Mr. Karmo said the major concentration of the Minnesota-based medical charity will be treating children with urological problems, as well as cleft and palates lips.

Aside from partnering with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and UNICEF to store and administer preventive vaccines, Duside hospital also works with the Health Ministry in the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria control program.