Care, attention, growth: the Smile House Centre in Catania celebrates its first birthday

Three days of surgery, consultations and training

A special weekend took place at the San Marco hospital in Catania from 9 to 11 May: three intense days dedicated to young patients with craniomaxillofacial malformations. Four surgical operations were carried out on children between five and fifteen months old, affected by cleft lip and cleft palate. The operations were performed by two coordinated teams, who had travelled from Catania and Rome, in a spirit of great collaboration and commitment.

But not only surgery: the weekend also saw dozens of multidisciplinary medical consultations and training sessions dedicated to the healthcare staff involved in caring for the patients. An opportunity to share experiences, keep up to date and strengthen teamwork.

A care network for the children of Sicily (and beyond)

The Smile House Centre in Catania was established a year ago within the Maxillofacial Surgery Unit of the San Marco Hospital, directed by Professor Alberto Bianchi, thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding with Smile House Fondazione ETS. In twelve months it has become a point of reference for the whole of Sicily and southern Italy.

Every year, in Sicily alone, more than 30 children are born with cleft lip and palate, a malformation that can involve the lip, palate, nose and jaw. The Smile House in Catania welcomes them with a holistic approach, taking them by the hand from prenatal diagnosis onwards and supporting them throughout their entire care journey, until aesthetic, functional and psychological difficulties are overcome.

A shared vision

From the outset, the Smile House project in Catania set out to draw inspiration from international guidelines and from the experience gained on humanitarian missions. The aim is to build a concrete response in Italy too, one that welcomes young patients and their families even before birth and supports them at every stage, from delivery to rehabilitation.

During the weekend, a dedicated space was also set up to welcome families, who were able to stay in constant contact with the healthcare team and find a calm place in which to wait with confidence.

A growing Network

Catania is one of the eight Centres that make up the national Smile House Network, founded on the project of Dr Domenico Scopelliti and consolidated thanks to a Protocol with the Ministry of Health. The Network promotes multidisciplinary care, the ongoing professional development of practitioners and the sharing of good practice.

In 2023, 65% of children born in Italy with cleft lip and palate were cared for at one of the Smile House Centres. A figure that reflects the effectiveness of a model combining expertise, empathy and collaboration. And which, in Catania too, has laid the foundations for a future of care, trust and welcome.