Program Manager for Operation Smile Malawi, Ibrahim Nthalika, said "these volunteers have a very important role to play in the work that Operation Smile Malawi does,” adding that “they will reduce mobility challenges they have been facing when reaching out to patients."

"Covid-19 has also affected our actions because as I am talking, we have over 500 people on a waiting list to undergo surgery but we cannot do that as we are currently conducting surgery to a smaller number of people due to Covid-19 restrictions," he said.

On his part, a representative of T/A Dzoole, Sixon Kamphinda, hailed Operation Smile for the initiative, saying "it will help ensure that people with cleft lips and cleft palates are reached and assisted accordingly even in these times of COVID 19 pandemic where these patients might need serious follow-up."

Frank Banda, a community volunteer from Kasungu, also hailed Operation Smile for the bicycles, saying the will ease their transportation when they are going for patient identification, follow-up and also cleft awareness campaigns.

Operation Smile Malawi has donated the bicycles to its community volunteers with funding from Kentown Wizard Foundation.