Advancing Health Equity in 2023 |
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Dear {First Name},
Bridge of Life exists to bring urgently needed healthcare services to underserved communities around the globe. Ultimately, we seek to help create a world where everyone has the chance to live a healthy and fulfilling life – regardless of where they live. Simply put, we believe in health equity for all.
Healthcare inequity results in a staggering loss of human potential that affects all of us in addition to the devastating impacts for those who face it every day. For example, 80% of the approximately two million people in the world who receive kidney treatment live in high-income countries. Those in lower-income countries typically have little to no treatment available.
This is why Bridge of Life works with in-country partners to increase access to dialysis by creating new or expanding existing clinics. These clinics are truly providing life-saving treatment to adults and children who otherwise would likely have no options. We also believe disease prevention plays a critical role in health equity solutions and are working in numerous countries both to screen high-risk individuals and empower them to make healthy lifestyle changes.
Today, thousands of men, women and children are living healthier lives because of your support. Please take a look at the impact your investment has made so far this year in our newsletter below. Thank you for caring and for joining us in this transformative work.
With gratitude,
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Lori Vaclavik
Executive Director, BOL
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Improving Health Outcomes for Patients |
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"I am very grateful for your help in supporting me and my family. I like my new PD room very much and will have more time to be at home and spend more time with my family, enjoying the things that I like to do.
The room is much more than I could have ever imagined and is more than just a treatment space. It will provide me with many more options and new opportunities. I am very grateful."
-Evelyn Sian, Age 12, PD Room Recipient
Guatemala
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Mission: Building PD Rooms In Guatemala |
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Two volunteer teams traveled to Guatemala in March to build four more at-home PD rooms for four deserving children and their families living in rural areas of the country. The real impact goes far beyond the walls of these rooms:
- Families no longer have travel expenses and the long, difficult commute to Guatemala’s only pediatric hemodialysis unit located in GT City
- Patients and caretakers have more opportunities to work and attend school
- PD treatment gives kids better health outcomes and puts them on the path to kidney transplant
When we look at these walls, we see Bridge of Life’s mission come to life to strengthen healthcare and offer a better quality of life for families worldwide. Watch our program recap video and see what our partners, Habitat for Humanity and Fundanier have to say about this incredible new, life-saving program.
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New Dialysis Clinic Underway In Mexico |
More than 100 hemodialysis patients in Jiloptepec do not have access to dialysis services in their local community. They must travel 2-4 hours each way, multiple times weekly, to receive necessary treatment. Bridge of Life is working to improve access and health outcomes for these patients in partnership with Jilotepec Rehab Center URIS to construct a new 15-station start-up dialysis center. Our staff recently traveled to Mexico to meet with the local team on project design and construction logistics. They created a development plan to break ground for the new center in late 2023. This new clinic will change the quality of life for many patients in dire need of life-saving treatment. |
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World Kidney Day
Bridging the Vulnerability Gap in Kidney Health
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Bridge of Life and our partners across the globe joined together to recognize World Kidney Day (WKD) on March 9th, with the theme: “Kidney health for all: Preparing for the unexpected, supporting the vulnerable.” The annual celebration raised awareness of kidney disease and promoted a kidney-friendly lifestyle. |
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World Kidney Day Activities Around the World:
- In Guatemala, FUNDANIER organized a kidney awareness campaign using TV, informational booths and created play areas (with kidney games and prizes!) to share the importance of caring for your kidneys. The day ended with the Torre del Reformador (Tower of the Reformer) illuminated in orange, the color of kidney awareness.
- In Nicaragua, Project El Crucero honored WKD by screening community members in the surrounding village for hypertension and diabetes.
- Global Livingston Institute held a radio talk show in Uganda to educate the masses about caring for your kidneys.
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In Ghana, people gathered for health education workshops on nutrition and kidney health.
- In Denver, CO the Bridge of Life team highlighted the day by engaging DaVita teammates in kidney trivia and distributing bottles of water.
While World Kidney Day is one day each year, we hope the lessons learned will last a lifetime!
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Villagewide Service Project |
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As part of DaVita's Villagewide, more than 450 teammates from across the country came together for a Village Service project to sort medication and assemble over 2,500 health kits that will be distributed to communities worldwide throughout the year. This project helped provide essential supplies, first-aid materials, antibiotics, vitamins, medication, and hygiene supplies to benefit our treatment and prevention program patients globally. |
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Celebration of Nurse Appreciation Week |
Our team celebrated International Nurses Day on Friday, May 12th in Bolivia during a screening, training and health education mission.
Nurses have hearts that inspire and hands that heal.
Thank you to these incredible healthcare professionals whose passion for our patient's health makes the world healthier and brighter. Thank you, nurses, for your compassion, optimism, caring hearts and kindness. We appreciate you every day!
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Upcoming Missions & Events |
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May: Mental Health Awareness Month
May 17-28: Dialysis Capacity Mission to India & Bangladesh
June 8-10: BOL Booth at DaVita's Physician Leadership Meeting
June 17-23: PD Room Mission to Guatemala
Sept 17-23: PD Mission to Guatemala
Dec: 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, please visit our Volunteer Page to submit a volunteer application.
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