With more than 375K served, Cuba expands free eye surgery to Asia, Africa

[Mika]

With more than 375,000 served, Cuba expands free eye surgery to Asia, Africa
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/060912/x091244.html

21:39:49 EDT Sep 12, 2006
Canadian Press

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba will bring its free eye surgery program to Africa and Asia in the coming months, expanding a campaign that has restored eyesight to hundreds of thousands of poor people in 28 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Most of the surgeries are done at the Cuban Ophthamology Institute in western Havana, a complex of buildings with 34 operating rooms where 62 doctors and dozens of residents can perform simultaneous operations, the directors said.

But "Operation Miracle" has also expanded to clinics in Venezuela and Bolivia and Cuban teams will soon expand to Ecuador and Mexico as well.

Various countries in both Africa and Asia have asked for Cuba's help, so in December, the first eye clinic using technology provided by the Cuban government will open in a yet-to-be-named country in Africa or Asia, with more to follow, director Marcelino Rios Torres said in Havana at the Non-aligned Movement's summit.

The Cuban government usually pays for air fare and other costs, as well as the surgeries. Since the program began in July 2004 with a group of poor Venezuelan patients, Cuban doctors have performed eye surgery, mostly for cataracts, on 375,619 patients, Rios Torres said.

As the program has grown, Cuba has acquired cutting-edge technology, mostly from the European Union and Asia because of the decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. In return, Cuba offers specialists whose dedication to serve the poor reflects the zeal of the Cuban revolution, the directors said.

More on Cuba's dedicated and hard working doctors at: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/060912/x091244.html

[physioex]

1. Want to fight the "War on Terror"........

I think Cuba has it all figured out.

[Robbien]

2. Many in South America are healthier (and alive) because of Cuba

And many in Africa also.

After over forty years of living under attacks by the US and the Miami Cuban mafia, Cuba still makes time to help out where they can.

Darn that leftist dictactor and his lefty ways.

[pitohui]

3. they did do a lot in africa, more than we're told

my guide in kenya was named by his mom for the cuban doctor who delivered him, when he first meets people he tells the story to solve the mystery of why a black english/swahili speaking kenyan has a spanish name

[OneBlueSky]

4. thank you, Cuba . . . at least some countries are working to help . . .

rather than kill and maim . . . too bad the U.S. ain't one of 'em . . .

[indepat]

10. Yeah, just look at what them lousy commie bastards are doing: someone

needs to fix their little red wagon.

[Vidar]

5. Whereas the pseudo-Christian US exports nothing but hate & death.

[0007]

6. This is top shelf humanity

The U.S. now has Homeland Security searching personal mail from Canada for illegal prescription drugs for needy seniors.

Cuba rocks.

[eccles12]

7. Is there any wonder why the US govt hates Cuba?

We can't stand for a nation to truly do good. I nominate Cuba a the first state in the Axis of Good. Are there any others?

[kurth]

8. Meanwhile U.S. forces continue the march for freedom

aka rape, torture, thievery, murder.

[KaptBunnyPants]

9. A state with almost nothing cures hundreds of thousands of blind people.

Imagine what we could do with our wealth...
edit:spelling

[IronLionZion]

11. Cuba has surprisingly good healthcare

If you go there you'd be shocked. Too bad you can't go. Who are you going to believe? The TV or your own lying eyes?