WHAT WE DO / PROGRAMS
General Surgery
The General Surgery specialty focuses on treating gastrointestinal and other abdominal disorders and soft‑tissue diseases, including a wide range of cancers such as pancreatic, gastric, liver, gallbladder, bile duct, colon, and breast cancers.
The Challenge
Low-income Bolivians suffer a high rate of abdominal hernias linked to strenuous physical labor and the inability to take time off from work or other responsibilities to recover from injury, illness or surgeries.
And while cancer rates are rising, Bolivia has only two dedicated public oncological hospitals that struggle to keep up with demand. The limited cancer care options lead many low-income patients to avoid seeking treatment until their cancer has advanced, further complicating their care.
15.1
Per 100K incidence rate of gallbladder cancer in Bolivian women
67%
Patients with Chagas disease experience gastrointestinal symptoms
Sources: National Library of Medicine
Our Work
Our General Surgery Program continuously evolves to meet the priorities identified by our Bolivian partners. The Program currently focuses on two major objectives:
Increase Laparoscopic Procedures
Increasing access throughout Bolivia to laparoscopic procedures to meet the most common general surgery demands, especially hernia repairs, cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal), and colon surgery. This is primarily pursued through mobile surgery campaigns organized and carried out by our sister organization, Puente de Solidaridad, and Bolivian physician partners. These campaigns provide surgeries at hospitals throughout the country while training local medical teams to better care for their communities. Solidarity Bridge also organizes mission trips to upgrade and expand training in the laparoscopic treatment of increasingly complex conditions.
Advance Cancer Care
Improving surgical options available to the low-income population for the treatment of various types of cancer. Mission trips provide training and other vital support at Bolivia’s only two public cancer hospitals in the treatment of pancreatic, gastric, liver, gallbladder, bile duct, colon, breast, head and neck, and other cancers.
Dive Deeper
PBS Visionaries Documentary
Accompanying Patients Along the Healing Journey
Read on
Mobile Surgery Campaigns Bring Care Closer to Home
Read on