President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvawas admitted this Friday to a hospital in Brasilia for surgery for arthrosis of the hip joint caused by wear and tear on the cartilage of the femoral head, which had caused him a lot of pain in recent months.

Lula said he was suffering constant pain for more than a yearalthough that hasn’t stopped him from traveling to dozens of countries since taking office in January.

The two-hour operation under general anesthesia aims to restore function of his right hip through arthroplasty, which involves removing femoral head for implantation of the prosthesis.

Although the operation is not dangerousLula, 77, will remain in hospital until Tuesday and then spend three weeks at the presidential residence recovering.

“I have to be a little careful because the surgery seems simple, but physical therapy and special treatment are needed for recovery,” he said in a television interview on Tuesday. “I will take good care of myself. “I’m very optimistic.”

The President said he would only be able to resume his presidential trips abroad at the end of November, when he travels to the United Arab Emirates to attend global climate meeting COP28.

“Until, I’ll stay here in Brasilia. I won’t be able to board the plane“He told government television.