"Quedan los cubanos," they chant, marching down El Prado, the main street in La Paz. A procession of 200-300 Bolivians and Cubans took to the streets today to call for the extension of the Cuban Operation Miracle and the emergency brigade health initiatives.
"Gracias Cuba," they continue.
A contingent of 732 Cuban health workers are working throughout the nine departments of Bolivia. Of those health workers, 122 are working in optomology.
Nikanora Vargas stood outside the Ministry of Health and Sport with a white-gauze patch over her right eye (below).
She travelled from Sorata, north west of La Paz, to show her support for Operation Miracle. Vargas was one of many in the crowd who had receive cataracts and pterygium operations from Cuban doctors.
Cuban optomologists have helped a total of 8,762 patients in Bolivia and 1,638 in Cuba, quotes a flyer distributed by the marchers. The health bridages have treated a further 499,462 Bolivians. Those are significant numbers in a country of only about 9 million people.
The Cubans arrived in Bolivia following Morales' win in the December 2005 election. The expenses of the initiative are paid for by the Cuban government.
Marchers stalled traffic along El Prado for about 30 minutes. While there was a police presence throughout the marchers' route, the police posed no opposition to the demonstration *that I saw*.
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