CUBA, October 19, 2009. Cuban First Vice President Jose Ramon Machado Ventura was named Illustrious Guest of the eastern Bolivian locality of Vallegrande. The city hall of Vallegrande bestowed the award on the Cuban high ranking official and highlighted the significant contribution and solidarity of Cuba with the South American nation in the fields of education and health, among others, Prensa Latina news agency reports. On Sunday, Machado Ventura, who is on an official visit to Bolivia, laid a floral wreath and signed the visitors’ book in a Mausoleum built in the place where the mortal remains of Commander Ernesto Che Guevara were found in 1997. He also visited the ‘Señor de Malta’ hospital, where Guevara’s body was taken to and where dozens of Cuban health professionals are currently working. Meanwhile, at the ophthalmological center of Santa Cruz, he spoke with health technicians and specialists, members of the Educational Brigade and other Cuban collaborators. Machado Ventura recognized the work of Cuban doctors and, particularly, that of the ophthalmologists who have performed nearly 456,000 surgeries on Bolivians, Paraguayans, Argentineans, Peruvians and Brazilians as part of the ‘Operation Miracle’ free eye care program for low-income people promoted by Cuba and Venezuela. (Cubaminrex- ACN) |