In Uruguay, the Mission Miracle celebrates its 16th anniversary today and there are eight health contingents from the Caribbean island that, together with Uruguayan colleagues, have given life to the José Martí Eye Hospital in Montevideo.

Dr. Evelyn Almira, head of the brigade, told Prensa Latina that in more than three decades, the Cuban specialists have done more than 109,000 surgeries.

In addition to this, more than 800,000 consultations and 210,000 researches have been carried out throughout the country, especially for low-income people and the elderly.

Dr. Almira emphasized that in these meetings, the gratitude of the population stands out, which is also expressed in the acknowledgements of various institutions that adorn the walls of the medical mission headquarters.

Plaques are displayed there, presented by the Organization of Retired and Pensioners (Onajpu), several unions, municipal governments and political and social groups.

Last May, the Department Board of Maldonado, east of here, unanimously recognized Cuba’s contribution to the health of other nations and in particular the work of the ophthalmologic brigade.

There are 21 members of the group, most of them women, and it includes 10 doctors, four nursing graduates, an optometrist, an electro-medicine specialist, as well as a driver and a cook.

The head of the mission praised the relations with the Uruguayan directors of the hospital and its health staff, which was reaffirmed in the recent scientific day that the Cuban delegation dedicated to Fidel Castro.

The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution was the driving force behind Cuba’s medical cooperation with the world.

Dr. Almira said that medical personnel from her country provide services in 57 countries, and Mission Milagro is present in most of them.

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