HARARE – Light manufacturing and consumer staple product leader Innscor brought smiles to 37 kids born with cleft lip in 2023, and now the company is targeting 100 next year.

Innscor had planned to fund the life-changing surgeries twice a year, but company chairman Addington Chinake says they have had to rethink that target after learning that there are over 1,000 children in need.

The surgeries are being conducted in partnership with the Global Cleft and Cranio-facial Foundation and Sally Mugabe Hospital.

“We understand there is a backlog of over 1,000 cases cleft lip and palates. Innscor is committing to have these surgeries four times a year subject to availability of Sally Mugabe Children’s Hospital and the doctors,” Chinake said in an interview with ZimLive on Tuesday.

“At each round, about 25 can be operated on meaning in a year 100 can be done. The quarterly target is firmed and is what we are working on. The initiative is unique in that it is being done by a group of local doctors and nurses for free. Drugs and consumables are also sourced and supplied locally by our health arm, Providence Human Capital.

“For us, this is more than just the financial contribution – we are changing lives. With every procedure, we are not just mending physical imperfections; we are igniting the flames of hope within each of the families, especially the mothers who have had to endure social stigma because of the conditions of their children.

“Beyond this initiative, Innscor is determined to continue expanding its corporate social responsibilities and partner with organisations to improve livelihoods.”

Innscor provides all the consumables required for the operations, accommodation for the children and their parents who come from all corners of the country, meals over a three-day period and transport during the review period.

Sally Mugabe Hospital doctors provide their skills, labour and time for free while the health centre also provides its facilities without charge.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Lips form between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy, according to medical experts. As a baby develops during pregnancy, body tissue and special cells from each side of the head grow toward the centre of the face and join together to make the face.

A cleft lip happens if the tissue that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results in an opening in the upper lip.

Innscor, founded in 1987 by Zinona ‘Zed’ Koudounaris, who was born in Zimbabwe to Greek immigrant parents, is one of Zimbabwe’s biggest companies with revenues of US$805 million in 2023.

Other companies in Innscor’s portfolio include National Foods, Colcom, Bakers Inn, Irvine’s, Texas Meats and several agricultural operations which produce some of Zimbabwe’s most iconic brands in the staple product market.