Dear Friend of Bridge of Life,
The arrival of another season of holidays and the end of the calendar year often prompt reflection. Has the year met our expectations? Have we accomplished the resolutions we defined so optimistically at its start? Are we the better version of ourselves we hoped to be?
For Bridge of Life, it's a time to review our accomplishments and shortfalls and to define goals and objectives for the new year that will soon be here. Our 2023 goals include impacting the lives of 8,882 adults and children, improving the quality of healthcare by training and empowering 740 healthcare professionals, and keeping 3,500 people healthier through chronic disease education and screening.
All of our accomplishments are only possible because of the many thousands of people who open their hearts and support our work with generous contributions of time, talent and money. Our staff is a team of only four individuals. Our key roles are to engage others who care about creating a world where everyone has quality healthcare. And to make the best use of the resources from those who believe that everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Bridge of Life's purpose is a mighty one. And I hope it brings you joy to know that you are the reason we can touch, change and save lives around the globe. This holiday season as you reflect on the year, know that we give thanks for you and hope that you will recommit to sharing our purpose. Together, we can do so much more.
With gratitude,
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Lori Vaclavik
Executive Director, BOL
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November is Diabetes Awareness Month |
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Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen faster in low and middle-income countries with 1 in 10 or 422 million adults worldwide living with diabetes. 1 in 2 people do not know they have it.
With diabetes being a leading risk factor of kidney failure, Bridge of Life is investing our resources and expertise to prevent and treat chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and CKD.
This week we’re in the field in Kabale, Uganda, in partnership with Global Livingston Institute to provide free health screenings to community members for diabetes, hypertension and CKD, as well as training local Community Health Workers, nurses and doctors from Rugarama Hospital.
Hundreds respond to one-day World Diabetes Day Medical Camp
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In a remarkable turnout, Bwama Health Center 3 on Lake Bunyonyi witnessed an overwhelming response as hundreds of patients sought medical care during the World Diabetes Day organized in partnership with BOL, Global Livingston Institute, Kabale District, Awamu and Rugarama & Rushoroza Hospitals.
This outreach has not only provided medical services to residents of the Bunyonyi Community but has also empowered them with knowledge for a healthier future.
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Improving Patient Health Outcomes |
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Magli lives in Montero, Bolivia with her husband and four children. She decided to visit Bridge of Life's screening because one of her sons had heard about and advised her to visit as she hadn't been feeling well. She wasn't sleeping well, was constantly thirsty and needing to urinate. She was also hungry all the time but had lost more than 22 lbs in the past month. She admitted to avoiding the doctor but was shocked to learn from her test results that she suffered from diabetes- her blood sugar was 546 and the glucose in her urine was 150.
The Bridge of Life volunteer team stepped into action; the RN helped her to understand her health results, the nephrologist counseled her on managing her diabetes and prescribed her free medication, the dietitian offered her a personalized diet plan and the social worker counseled Magli and provided hope for healthier days to come.
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Growing Our Impact, One Community at a Time |
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Earlier in the year, our volunteer team returned from a two-week dialysis capacity mission to India and Bangladesh led by BOL's Director of Technical Operations. In partnership with Global Hospital Mt Abu, Amrita Hospital Faridabad and Sonar Bangla Foundation, volunteers conducted clinical assessments and trained 52 renal care professionals representing 20 dialysis centers responsible for providing care for over 1,050 patients. Training focused on patient care processes, procedures and best-demonstrated practices that promote continuous quality improvement. This work will enhance patient care by improving health outcomes, patient safety and quality of care for years to come.
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Guatemala
AV Fistula Surgical Mission
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Griselda is 1 of 24 kids who received a fistula in September from our volunteer surgical team. In preparation for her surgery, Griselda happily boasted "Voy a tener fistula!" (I'm going to have a fistula!").
Fistulas provide a less intrusive access point, far fewer infections, greater success in dialysis treatment, and more flexibility to do playful activities.
Griselda radiates such joy and strength even during tough times. Her t-shirt could not describe her better: THIS GIRL IS FIERCE!
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13-year-old Gladis now has a new PD Room! She's been spending most of her time in Guatemala City away from friends and family so she can receive life-saving dialysis treatment in the country's only pediatric in-center hemodialysis center.
"One of the many things that stood out so meaningfully to me was the incredible show of community and love for Gladis and her family.
Not only did nearly every neighbor come to show their support, but several jumped in to offer their help and worked tirelessly, shoulder to shoulder, with all of us the entire time.
It truly took a Village to make this happen in one day, and we are so honored to do our part to bring Gladis home."
-Lisa Korth, Volunteer
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Bridge of Life is collaborating with multiple partners to bring the first-ever dialysis treatment to The
Kingdom of Tonga. Currently, people who suffer from diabetes and renal failure are forced to flee their home country for treatment. Many who cannot afford travel are desperately seeking other treatment options – but without the proper treatment, most individuals, unfortunately, pass away. The Siaosi Brown Dialysis Center & Clinic, opening in 2024, will provide low-cost or free essential dialysis treatment to Tongans suffering
from end-stage kidney failure. A groundbreaking of this new 10-chair clinic took place this summer.
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"Your partnership and investment is invaluable and immeasurable. To bring the first-ever dialysis clinic to Tonga has always just been a dream and now it's become a reality thanks to Bridge of Life's expertise and your support."
- Rod Emam, Siasoi Brown Dialysis Center
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Move It with Purpose Recap
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This year's event that took place over the month of September was an overwhelming success. With 25 corporate partners and more than 6,400 participants "moving" more than 394,000 miles for Bridge of Life, these movers, shakers and world-changers were significant contributors in advancing health equity across the world and raising more than $754,000 for our dialysis and chronic disease prevention programs.
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Thanks to a generous grant awarded from Cencora Impact Foundation (formerly AmerisourceBergen Foundation), BOL is collaborating with Nursing Education Collaborative for Haïti –Coopérative des Infirmières en Éducation en Haïti (NECH-CIEH) and the University of Denver to implement a new program aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of the Haitian people by advancing the role of nurses in community development and healthcare across the country.
The impact of this project has the potential to screen up to 3,000 people over a 12-month period, increasing access to health care and thereby reducing the number of deaths related to untreated hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease. Additionally, at a time when Haiti desperately needs skilled professionals, this grant will provide high-quality resources and education for the next generation of Haitian nurses, medical students, and resident physicians.
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Upcoming Missions & Events |
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Know your Risk, Know your Response |
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November 9-19: Chronic Disease Prevention & Screening Mission in Uganda
November 28: Giving Tuesday: A Global Day
of Giving
Nov 27 - Dec 1: Kidney Donor Mission to Guatemala
Dec 3-9: PD Room Mission to Guatemala
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If you would like to learn more about volunteering and joining BOL on an international mission in 2024, please visit our Volunteer Page to submit a volunteer application.
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