Supporters who have been with us for many years may remember our old tagline, “Training and Equipping in Latin America.” This dual model of mission is key to our work. Advanced training combined with increased access to resources creates a sustainable and life-saving impact for the health of our brothers and sisters in Bolivia.

Throughout the past 10 years, our equipping efforts have included delivery of five shipping containers carrying multiple tons of medical supplies. These important projects would not be possible without our partners at Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach (HSMO). HSMO is a medical surplus recovery organization that channels donations from over 80 hospitals to organizations such as ours, and has expertise in packing container shipments.

A crane and flatbed truck were used to expedite the unloading of the container.

Our most recent shipment was sent in May. We had spent months procuring the requested supplies and equipment to support our year-round surgery programs, but as COVID-19 began to spread throughout Bolivia, HSMO was also able to help us shift priorities. In the final weeks of packing, we were able to include more PPE and critical care supplies to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients in Bolivia. After a long trip—by truck, train and ship—the container arrived at our warehouse in Cochabamba on July 14, the fastest delivery we have ever seen.

This swift delivery was providential. By July, COVID-19 cases in Bolivia had increased to the point of catastrophe. Hospitals were considered collapsed by the surging demands. Patients suffered from a lack of treatment resources and healthcare workers were endangered by a lack of PPE.

There was an urgent need to distribute these materials as soon as possible to hospitals, clinics, and care facilities overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Our partners at Puente de Solidaridad wasted no time in unpacking the container and preparing donations. But here, they were aided by a recent investment we had made. Thanks to our new cloud-based inventory system, our partners at Puente de Solidaridad already had a barcoded inventory of all contents in the container.

This new online inventory system was many years in the making, and brings advancements to all areas of our medical supply work. But it’s implementation in 2019 has proven to be truly lifesaving in the new reality we find ourselves in today.

"In only two days, two staff were able to organize all the supplies from the container. Previously, we would have needed many volunteers and weeks to organize all this." said Patricia Vargas Rojas, Executive Director of Puente de Solidaridad.

The first supply donations reached those in need only three days after the container’s arrival.

The first donation of the newly arrived supplies occurred on July 17, only three days after the container was delivered. These resources are critical, providing healthcare workers with the protection they need to continue serving patients. But through our online system we can already see that inventory for basic PPE supplies is nearly depleted.

With the increase of COVID-19 in Bolivia, our warehouse has been fielding supply requests from more and more places around the country. We are doing our best to respond to those working on the front lines, whether at our long-time partner hospitals or elsewhere. Next week, we will follow up with another blog detailing some of these supply distributions to organizations who serve the most vulnerable people.

In the meantime, our work continues here in the US. In June we sent additional supplies on a container shipped by St. Paul-based Mano a Mano International, and next week we will send our first-ever air freight shipment to Bolivia. Please join us in praying for the swift delivery of these materials, and for all those who suffer from inequitable distribution of healthcare resources.

Swift Supply Distribution Saves Lives