Paraguay Travel Postponed
With heavy hearts we report that our upcoming Neurosurgery & Neurology Institute mission trip to Paraguay has been postponed.
This fall, with great excitement, we began planning what would be our first return to mission travel in more than two years. Our partners at the Hospital Nacional de Itaguá invited our team to visit and provide mentored training on the treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Providing specialized training in cerebral vascular care is a primary focus of our work in Paraguay. A small team of five US missioners were prepared for travel, and four patients were scheduled for surgery.
But sadly, COVID cases are on the rise in Paraguay, and our partners there have asked us to postpone these plans. Initially, Paraguay was able to keep the pandemic at bay for more than a year. But last March, the virus surged overwhelming the health system and sparking civil unrest. Now just months later, they are facing a new wave. The hospital in Itaguá is a designated COVID hospital, and their staff and resources must be reserved for the expected surge in patients at this time. The four patients scheduled for operations are currently stable and their surgeries can be postponed. We hope to reschedule our trip this spring, and we’ve already begun discussions to expand our plans and provide a formal course in cerebral vascular care.
Until then, we will hold all the people of Paraguay in our prayers, but most especially our medical partners. Their commitment to continue providing essential health care through these challenging circumstances is an inspiration. And through it all, they remain engaged in our work and eager to expand their skills to better serve their community. We pray for their safety, fortitude, and strength.
Two more mission trips to Bolivia remain on our calendar this year, a pacemaker trip to Cochabamba to provide life-saving devices for patients in need, and a return to the Santa Barbara Hospital in Sucre where our Neurosurgery & Neurology Institute is focused on improving neurotrauma care.
Through partnerships and collaborative actions that are measurable and sustainable, the Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute works to build capacity and expertise in Bolivia and Paraguay in order to increase access to safe, affordable and timely health care.
We are committed to alleviating the suffering, death and disability from neurological disorders and injuries that disproportionately impact patients in the countries where we serve.