A medical team from a charity organization in the United States carried out free operations for 26 handicapped children in northwest China's Qinghai Province by May 19.

The medical team will carry out operations for another 24 children through late May in the province. Receiving the surgical treatment at the People's Hospital of Qinghai in this provincial capital, the children all suffered congenital cleft lips or palates

"I benefited a lot from the surgery, and I can say nothing but thank you," said one of the children who received the operation under the program.

This medical team of 27 members was from US Chinese Children Charity, based in Denver, Colorado, United States. "We hope to carry out this program here every year," said Joseph Strausburg, the leader of the medical team.

The program is part of Plan for Tomorrow that was launched last May by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA). Under the MCA program, surgery and rehabilitation will be provided for disabled orphans under 18 in social welfare institutions across China from 2004 to 2006.

The program is funded by the China Welfare Lottery, local governments and private donations.

According to a survey conducted by the local Department of Civil Affairs at the end of 2004 sufferers of congenital cleft lips or palates relative to the number of total provincial newborns were more than the national average in Qinghai.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2005)