Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - For the third year in a row, the Jalisco Ministry of Health (SSJ) has launched "100 Jornadas Médico Quirúrgicas," a program that offers low-complexity surgical procedures to people with minor medical problems and low incomes. This year's goal is to perform more than 2,500 free operations.

Specialty procedures that will be available include: general surgery, dermatology, reconstructive surgery, gynecology and ophthalmology. In the area of orthopedics, knee and hip prosthesis procedures can be performed and in the ophthalmology category, cataract problems will be corrected and corrective lenses for 400 people.

"The most important thing is that all patients who go to health centers for any reason can be assured that the prime objective of the program is to cure their conditions," said the Director of the Supervision and Advisory Department of the SSJ, Mario Martin Orozco.

Some of the participating hospitals are:
• Hospital General de Occidente (HGO)
• Hospital Materno Infantil "Esperanza López Mateos" (Maternal & Children's Hospital)
• El Instituto Dermatológico "José Barba Rubio" (Dermatology Institute)
• El Instituto de Cirugía Reconstructiva "José Guerrerosantos" (Reconstructive Surgery)
• La Clínica del Varón (Men's Health Clinic)

Regional Hospitals: Lagos de Moreno, Tepatitlan de Morelos, Yahualica, La Barca, Ciudad Guzman, Autlán, Puerto Vallarta, Cocula, Ameca and Magdalena

Nosocomial of First Contact: Colotlán, Huejuquilla, Ojuelos, Encarnación, San Juan de los Lagos, Teocaltiche, Atotonilco, Jocotepec, Tamazula, Sayula, El Grullo, La Huerta, Cihuatlán, Mascota and Tomatlán

Obstetric and Neonatal Units: Tala, Zapotlanejo, Ocotlán and San Miguel El Alto

The health centers will be open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and the hospitals from 9 am until 3 pm. For more information, call (333) 030-5000, ext. 35390.