Lage Visits Bolivian Hospitals
La Paz , Jan 22/2006 (Prensa Latina) Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage visited on Sunday Bolivia´s National Ophthalmology Institute and the Hospital for Children, both venues of the Cuban medical cooperation, particularly the Miracle Operation program.
At the ophthalmological center, Lage, who heads the Cuban delegation to Evo Morales´ presidential inauguration, was welcomed by all 30 Cuban specialists and 25 Bolivians recently freshed out of the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine.
They are serving here as part of Operation Miracle to restore vision to hundreds of thousands of people from Latin America and the Caribbean .
The Cuban top official learnt about the work Cuban doctors are doing in Bolivia , about their contribution to the program and cooperation prospects in the field.
While confirming the plan to operate 100 patients a day, chief of mission Henry Carreno expressed the physicians´ willingness to work tirelessly for the health of the Bolivian people.
At least 2,227 patients have been treated here in just a few weeks, or about 50-60 per day, on average, he said.
Also making up the Cuban delegation are Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Martha Lomas, Deputy Foreign Minister Rafael Daussa, Ambassador Luis Felipe Vazquez and member of Parliament Jorge Gonzalez, who is also Chief of the Cuba-Bolivia Parliament Group.
Lage attended Saturday the symbolic swearing in ceremony of Morales in the holy temple of Tiwanaku following the ancient indigenous rituals; met with Vice President-elect Alvaro Garcia and attended a rally of solidarity with Cuba .