Their work in 2015 began on January 26 for being the staff on holiday and closed on September 1 with 5,521 surgeries, of which 1,605 were of cataract, totaling 25,655 operations in eight years.

This is another contribution to the effort the brigade is making towards the eye health of the Paraguayan people, said Carlos Alberto Perea, head of the group of collaborators.

With this, another link in the chain is devised to achieve its commitment to surgically benefit in late 2015 about 3,000 patients with limited economic resources of this brother country, he noted.

This figure was applauded at the Maria Auxiliadora Ophthalmological Center by the Cuban collaborators, who were collectively recognized, especially the staff of the operating room, Dr. Perea said.

He thanked the patients for the examples of gratitude that are daily expressed to them, and confirmed the commitment of the brigade to continue working tirelessly together with the Paraguayan people in this humanitarian work.

The brigade recently celebrated one decade of work in this nation, the first two years dedicated to sending patients to Cuba for treatment, as a result of the agreement between the respective Ministries of Health in this subject.

Cooperators are providing care to low-income people, who receive in general consultations testing glasses and intraocular lens calculation, laboratory research, surgeries and hospitalization (patients and companions) with diet and delivery of free medicines.

The Miracle Mission or Operation Miracle is a project started on July 8, 2004 at the initiative of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and late Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez.

Mission Miracle. Stock photo

The Zacatecas state legislature thanked Cuba for its contribution to the Operation Miracle program, via which 4,800 patients have received
free eyesight restoration surgery since 2007.

Lawmaker Blas Avalos presented a certificate of recognition to Cuban Consul Luis Quirantes, conferred by the State Legislature.

The Zacateca recognition goes first of all to the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, Avalos stated.

During the ceremony, Avalos said that about 56,000 ophthalmological surgeries were performed at Republica de Cuba Hospital in the
neighboring city of Saltillo, state of Coahuila, since the opening of that medical center in 2007.

Nearly 2,300 patients with different eye afflictions have been assisted there this year, the legislator said.