As we prepare for our first shipment of supplies and equipment in 2025 from Minnesota to Bolivia next week, check out a quick snapshot of our distributions of supplies and equipment in 2024: our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Internacional in Cochabamba provided items to 408 institutions throughout Bolivia; these items included 4,462 pieces of mobility equipment and 394 wheelchairs, in addition to tens of thousands of pounds of medical supplies and other in-demand items. Mano a Mano shipped 7 containers with 182,317 pounds of supplies from Minnesota to Bolivia in 2024.

Large-Scale Distributions, and Specialized Individual Distributions

Pictured above is an example of a large-scale donation of supplies and equipment in the Fall of 2024 (here is another recent example of a large-scale distribution of supplies for 25 health centers from 11 Municipalities from throughout Bolivia in early December 2024).

In addition to large-scale distributions where dozens of organizations come to our Cochabamba warehouse to receive thousands of pounds of supplies and equipment, many other items require a more individualized approach.

Below are 2 recent examples from January 2025.

Biomedical Interns Work With Mano a Mano on Equipment Sent From Minnesota

Three of our biomedical lab volunteers shared their knowledge in presentations on biomedicine at Mano a Mano’s El Abra warehouse. Deyna A., Cristal B., and Diego T., biomedical students from Universidad del Valle, explained the importance of this field and showcased various medical devices they worked with during their volunteer experience at Mano a Mano during a presentation in January 2025.

This hands-on opportunity allowed them to learn and practice with more advanced technology—often unavailable in hospitals— enhancing their professional training.

Equipment sent from Minnesota is inspected and repaired by Mano a Mano staff and interns (like these Universidad del Valle students) so it can be distributed to organizations throughout Bolivia (this picture is from a December 4th, 2024 distribution).

Customized Wheelchair for Joaquín

After many adjustments and improvements, Joaquín C. received a wheelchair from Mano a Mano in mid-January 2025.

Mano a Mano staff and interns adjust Joaquín’s wheelchair. This wheelchair, and all of the equipment seen in the background, has been shipped from Minnesota over the past few years; in Bolivia, these items support Mano a Mano’s PT program.

We provided personalized technical support, taking into account the importance of his daily needs. He is 30 years old and has been participating in our physical rehabilitation program since 2023.