Our latest maritime shipment took just 34 days to deliver 8+ tons of medical equipment and supplies from Springfield, Illinois, to Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Solidarity Bridge is pleased to announce the formal adoption of an agreement of cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Paraguay.

In addition to providing direct medical care in Bolivia and Paraguay, we at Solidarity Bridge remain committed to ensuring that our model of care is truly transformative—for individuals, communities and systems. This white paper codifies the learnings and insights gained from our decades of experience and offers a framework to make these encounters even more fruitful, respectful, and transformative.

While it is not our primary focus, we recognize that advocacy is an important tool to promote access to safe, timely, and affordable surgeries for the patients we aim to serve. This past spring, we met with other global surgery experts to push for more investment in surgical services.

After years of watiing, 11 patients found the healing care they needed through our recent Neuro trip to Paraguay. For the three patients profiled here, they also found a supportive family to walk with them through their journey to healing.

Our first three days in Paraguay included a Stroke Symposium, endovascular procedures, a cerebral bypass surgery, a presentation on revascularization, dinner with the Paraguayan Neurosurgical Society, and a two-day workshop on microsurgical bypass skills.

Over 60 residents, students, and early-career doctors in Bolivia and Paraguay are participating in a UW-Madison virtual neurosurgery residency program facilitated by the NNI.

This year at our FIESTA Gala, we are proud to present our Solidarity Award to neurosurgeon Dr. John Weaver, a 10-time missioner who personifies solidarity, generosity and a deep commitment to care. 

At our 2023 FIESTA Gala, we are honored to recognize an organization that has done more than any other to help us advance our vision that medical professionals have the necessary resources to serve their communities in Bolivia and Paraguay.

Our work at Solidarity Bridge is an attempt to follow Jesus’ example of service, love, and human connection.

Resuming our in-person partnership with the Oncological Institute of Eastern Bolivia this month, our main goal was to provide specialized training and fill essential surgical equipment and supply needs. But we also traveled to the Cancer Institute to share the burden, albeit for just one week, of the ups and downs of cancer care.

In today’s gospel, Mary and Martha are confronted with their brothers’ serious illness. Their fear, worry and desperation are what many patients and their families feel when they receive the diagnosis of a surgically treatable condition, but are unable to access the needed operation.