Swiss Mission Completes Over 500 Free Eye Surgeries in Cancún

Cancún, Mexico — A Swiss medical mission has concluded a two-week program at the "Dr. Jesús Kumate Rodríguez" General Hospital in Cancún, Quintana Roo, having performed over 500 free eye surgeries for Mexicans with limited economic resources. The mission, which ran from October 4 and concluded on October 17, marks the 25th anniversary of this humanitarian activity in Mexico.

A Quarter-Century of Humanitarian Work

The mission involved seven key members of the Swiss Foundation Against Blindness in Mexico, supported by 20 Swiss volunteers. The team was received by Lic. Norma Aragón, president of the Foundation in Mexico and coordinator with the DIF, an organization with which the foundation has collaborated for 25 years.

The Swiss delegation was led by Dr. Theo Signer of Morcote, a member of the foundation's board of directors, Medical Director of the Grupo Vista, and head of the Avanti Center in Lugano. He was supported by surgeon Antonio Barloggio of Bellinzona. Other key medical personnel included Claudia Michel of Cureglia, who was responsible for quality control and patient management, and Gina Sofia Signer of Morcote, a young operating room technical assistant.

Francesca Sarra of Valle Bavona was tasked, alongside Swiss and Mexican colleagues, with coordinating the more than 500 patients scheduled for surgery over the two-week period.

The Full Medical and Support Team

The delegation also included the foundation's president and founder, Alex Heuberger of Olten, alongside surgeons Geno Sarra and Jessica Graziano of Burgdorf and Johannes Schwarz of Zürich. The logistical and organizational efforts were managed by indispensable figures such as Andrea and Adrian Heuberger of Olten, Esther Schwarz of Zürich, and Monika Heuberger, of Mexican origin, who was responsible for technical direction.

Support specialists were also present, including Max Mencheva of Bern for the sterilization of surgical instruments and Jordi Campos of Burgdorf for post-operative controls. The operating room assistants were Elena Mencheva of Bern, Samia Abdelmalik of Zürich, and Gertrud Dalla Brida of Olten, whose competence and dedication enabled the work of the surgeons.

The Medical Achievement

Over the past two weeks, the doctors operated on 500 patients free of charge, many of whom will regain their sight after years of blindness or severe visual impairment.

"The Swiss Foundation Against Blindness in Mexico is a project that is especially important to me," stated Dr. Theo Signer. "Each year we work with local ophthalmologists, establishing relationships of trust and mutual collaboration."

The foundation's work is to combat, prevent, and treat blindness and eye diseases in coordination with Mexican authorities, who identify a city or area where the population requires care. The foundation then organizes the dispatch of doctors. Each year, the ophthalmologists set the goal of operating on as many patients as possible. Typically, between 500 and 600 people are treated in just over two weeks, requiring the doctors to enter the operating room early in the morning and conclude procedures after 8:00 p.m.

Recovering from a Major Setback

In April 2023, the doctors lost a significant portion of their medical equipment stored in Mexican warehouses due to a major fire caused by an electrical short circuit. The Swiss Foundation Against Blindness lost 3 microscopes, 2 sterilizers, and 280 lenses, in addition to numerous essential medicines, technologies, and machinery required for operations.

The damage was estimated at 400,000 Swiss francs. The doctors are trying to recover from this loss through their own efforts and resources, as well as through numerous donations received during a charity event. During that evening, the foundation managed to raise 80,000 francs, which were used to purchase a portion of the lost materials and machinery.

As Dr. Signer affirmed, "Thanks to all those who can give us even a little help. Every contribution will be useful for the purchase of new medical equipment along with the complex and costly instrumentation that has been lost and is fundamental for some surgical interventions."