Operation Walk Medical Team to Perform 60 Surgeries
May 14, 2007

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On May 14th, Ambassador Charles L. Glazer visited the public hospital in the Salvadoran city of Sonsonate and met with Hospital authorities, patients, and a group of fifty U.S. medical professionals from NGO Operation Walk who will provide 60 joint replacements and follow-up treatment to patients in Sonsonate, western El Salvador. 

From May 12 through 19, the U.S. team will perform surgeries for free that would normally cost $4,000 to $10,000 each, said Doctor Roberto Gil, the Salvadoran Surgical Medical Resident working with the Operation Walk doctors.

“A couple of weeks ago, President Bush and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced they wanted to make medical care more available in Central America through private and public partnerships.  This shows the great heart of the American people.  This is all donated.  Over $100,000 was raised for this trip and $500,000 worth of medical equipment was donated by American companies.  We are very happy that Operation Walk is here and able to help people in El Salvador,” said Ambassador Glazer.

Registered Nurse Jeri Ward, the Operation Walk Coordinator, said this is the second visit of Operation Walk to El Salvador.  She said the team has received great cooperation from local and U.S. authorities for the 2005 visit as well as this one.

Operation Walk is a private, not-for-profit, volunteer medical services organization that provides free surgical treatment for patients in developing countries (and occasionally in the U.S.) who have no access to life-improving care for arthritis and other debilitating bone and joint conditions.