Supplies Arrive as Pandemic Surges in Paraguay

In his book, The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace, John Paul Lederach writes of “hope that links people half a world away and suggests a possibility for change.” Through the work of Solidarity Bridge we are privileged again and again to bear witness to and live in this hope.

This feeling of hope was palpable during a recent meeting between Solidarity Bridge and our partners at Caritas, the social outreach arm of the Archdiocese of Asunción, Paraguay. This partnership ensured the successful delivery of our first medical supply shipment to Hospital Nacional de Itauguá, one of the country’s largest public hospitals, and a new partner in our neurosurgery program.

It was evident in this meeting that while what we do together is important, it is equally important to remember who we are together. In that way, we find mutuality and support in a common vocation to bring healing, meet fundamental human needs, and challenge patterns that denigrate human dignity. Through our donation of medical supplies and equipment, Caritas was able to better carry out its mission during a moment of crisis.

Throughout most of 2020, Paraguay gained praise for its control of the coronavirus pandemic. Over the past year, we have maintained regular contact with our neurosurgery partners at Hospital Nacional de Itauguá. When asking for updates on the coronavirus situation in the country, neurosurgeon Dr. José Kuzli would joke and say, “Ni la peste viene a Paraguay”/ “Not even the plague comes to Paraguay.”

However, the situation took a drastic turn in the first months of this year. The health system is now struggling to cope with a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Many public hospitals have collapsed and intensive care units are at capacity. The absence of beds for the sick coincides with a shortage of medicines and the delayed arrival of vaccines.

Paraguay lags far behind in the administration of vaccines in comparison to neighboring countries. Less than 50,000 doses of a two-dose vaccine have been administered thus far, to the population of more than 7 million people.

At the height of this crisis, our maritime shipment arrived to Caritas with over $136,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment, particularly neurosurgical materials along with personal protective equipment for medical personnel. The Caritas team presented the shipment to the medical director of the hospital as a small source of support and relief in the midst of the surging health crisis.

Despite the challenging circumstances, we remain linked by hope to these friends and partners half a world away. We cannot give up on the possibility of change nor our call to increase access to safe and affordable surgery. We will soon begin training webinars with the hospital to advance the neurosurgical initiatives we had planned to achieve through upcoming mission trips. We anxiously await the time when it is safe to travel and work together again in person, but until then, our mission will find creative ways to advance our goals and serve the patients who need us most.