Puebla launches mobile hospital for free cataract surgeries

The government of Puebla has launched the Second Free Cataract and Pterygium Surgery Campaign through the Hospital Itinerante 5 de Mayo. Installed at the Centro Expositor, the mobile hospital aims to provide specialized medical care to families in remote regions who face barriers to accessing such services.

Governor Alejandro Armenta Mier supervised the operations, noting that 1,000 surgeries have been performed this year, benefiting 1,000 families. The state has set a goal to reach 2,500 procedures by 2027. The current campaign involves an investment of 41 million pesos and utilizes a team of approximately 150 nurses and 12 specialized doctors, including anesthesiologists and internists.

Patients receive comprehensive care, including the surgical procedure, post-operative recovery, medication kits, and monofocal Plus intraocular lenses to promote independence from glasses. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Health, the State System for Integral Family Development (SEDIF), IMSS-Bienestar, Fundación Telmex, and the Mexican Academy of Surgery. To expand coverage, a second specialized mobile unit is planned for acquisition next year to reach the Sierra Norte, Nororiental, Negra, and Mixteca regions.