With the purpose of putting a smile on customers’ faces, Watsons Philippines began its partnership with Operation Smile nine years ago. Since then, the partnership has changed the lives of 2,073 people who were born with cleft-lip and palate conditions through free surgeries.
Operation Smile aims to help children with cleft conditions by giving free surgeries. | Know more here
Operation Smile, one of the largest medical volunteer-based nonprofit organizations in the world, has mobilized thousands of medical volunteers from a wide range of medical specialties from more than 80 countries. One of the initiatives it has launched is Women in Medicine, which hopes to inspire and enable women to take on leadership roles in the medical field. According to the World Health Organization, 70% of health professional across the world is comprised of women. However, the Philippines still lacks 290,000 health care workers to meet the WHO-recommended ratio of 44.5 health workers for every 10,000 of the population.
The Women in Medicine program seeks to educate women in resource-poor countries on advanced medical practices, help provide them with the tools for them to become leaders in global medicine, expand opportunities for female health care workers in underserved communities, and elevate the overall quality of cleft care globally.
Operation Smile is launching Women in Medicine in the Philippines, making the country only the fourth in the world to work with the organization on the all-women initiative.
Operation Smile in the Philippines. | Contact them here
An all-female international surgical and educational mission was held in a local hospital in Cebu from October 10-15. The surgical and educational mission, which will help change the lives of 40 beneficiaries from Cebu, will put the spotlight on the critical role
women play in the global healthcare system, and encourage them to take on leadership roles in their professions.
The multinational surgical and educational team is made up of 60 plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, dentists, speech therapists, child life specialists, and biomedical technicians from the United States, Vietnam, Australia, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru, Honduras, Sweden, UK, Egypt, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Operation Smile co-founder and president Kathleen Magee said there are five million patients in need of cleft care in the countries the organization works in, and five billion people who lack access to safe surgery across the world.
“We can’t address this need without more women in the healthcare arena,” said Magee. “The spirit of bringing a smile to people’s faces continues to live on in Watsons. We are happy to partner with Operation Smile in this groundbreaking program as we continue to not only help change the lives of those who are born with cleft-lip and palate conditions, but also expand career opportunities for female health care workers,” said Viki Encarnacion, PR and Sustainability Director of Watsons.
“The spirit of bringing a smile to people’s faces continues to live on in Watsons. We are happy to partner with Operation Smile in this groundbreaking program as we continue to not only help change the lives of those who are born with cleft-lip and palate conditions, but also expand career opportunities for female health care workers”
– Viki Encarnacion,
PR and Sustainability Director of Watsons
Joining the all-women Operation Smile team are 40 female Watsons employee-volunteers.
Operation Smile and the Watsons team come together to launch the Women in Medicine initiative.
This partnership in the Philippines is part of A.S. Watson’s global commitment to bring 10,000 perfect smiles in collaboration with Operation Smile. “Our promise to Look Good Do Good Feel Great has always included doing good by uplifting the health and wellbeing of the communities where we are present,” said Encarnacion.
About Watsons Philippines
Watsons is part of the Health and Beauty Store chain of A.S Watson, the largest health, beauty, cosmetics, and perfumery retailer in the world. Today, Watsons H&B Asia is the leading health and beauty chain in the continent with successful operations in 13 markets.
In 2002, A.S. Watson Group joined hands with SM Prime Holdings Inc., the Philippines’ leading shopping mall developer. The partnership brought about the first Watsons stores in SM Megamall and The Podium (Ortigas). Today, Watsons operates 900+ stores in the Philippines serving more than 100,000 customers per day.
Watsons strives to ensure that its customers get the best value for their money through monthly promotions, special offers, and continuous consumer marketing programs. Each Watsons store houses nothing but the best brands from top manufacturers all over the world and also carries its own competitively priced, high-quality house brands and private labels. With more than 1000
brands ranging from medicines, cosmetics, and fragrances to personal care items and general merchandise, Watsons Your Personal Store delivers only the best health, wellness, and beauty solutions to each and every customer.