Seventy people with problems due to cataract and retinopathy regained their vision and increased their quality of life significantly as a result of a recent free ophthalmological surgery campaign offered by La Carlota Hospital (HLC) at Montemorelos University, in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico. The October 22-24 event preceded the 15th World Meeting of Values, the first event in which HLC participated after being recently recognized as a Compassionate Institution by the Charter for Compassion organization.

The three-day surgery campaign took place at HLC’s Vision Institute. In addition to the 40 cataract surgeries and 30 retinal treatments performed, 120 more cataract surgeries were scheduled at no cost for January 2024, bringing hope to scores of people suffering from these conditions. The ophthalmological procedures were carried out by a team of qualified specialists from the Vision Institute, who donated their time and expertise to the initiative, organizers said.

In Mexico, more than 3 million people suffer from cataracts, and this type of compassionate activity — led by HLC in partnership with other entities — is a crucial step toward the eradication of the condition in the region, Juan Carlos Pedraza, coordinator of Medical Brigades at the Vision Institute, said.

Pedraza explained that the initiative emphasized the ongoing commitment to the community with the goal of serving more people. “By being part of Charter for Compassion, we reiterate our commitment to help and support the most vulnerable people in society with quality surgery interventions, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Having the opportunity of being a Compassionate Institution is very favorable, because our experience in brigades can be combined with the support of institutions with larger reach, and thus, more people can benefit,” he said.

Prominent sponsors supported and partnered with the campaign, including the Office of Equality and Inclusion of Nuevo León, the Ministry of Health of Nuevo León, the Government of Montemorelos, the World Meeting of Values organization, Charter for Compassion, Carl Zeiss, and the Montemorelos University.

On October 27-28, the 15th World Meeting of Values took place under the theme “Social Harmony and Reconciliation,” in the Pabellón de Monterrey Auditorium. At that event, HLC officially received the distinction as a “Compassionate Institution” by Charter for Compassion.

“This gesture of compassion and generosity leaves indelible marks on the community, and HLC is pleased to be recognized as a Compassionate Institution,” Pedraza said. “[It is] a title that makes the hospital stand out as an example to follow in promoting compassion and quality health care in the region.”

HLC has provided health-care services for 80 years and now offers multiple services, including specialized care, surgeries, advanced diagnosis and tests, in-patient care, and emergency services. In 2022, HLC performed 1,610 eye surgeries but a remodelling initiative of the surgery theaters preventing the hospital from reaching more people in 2023.

Charter for Compassion is an international organization with presence in 54 countries and 440 cities around the world. The organization works with various entities and governments regularly to increase services to populations around the world. HLC leaders said that the designation of Montemorelos University and HLC as Compassionate Institutions will boost efforts of the State of Nuevo Leon in Mexico to also become a Compassionate State, one of the first in the country.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.