Bringing care and prevention to remote regions of Brazil requires more than commitment, it requires presence. That's why, in 2025, Américas Amigas, in partnership with the Brazilian Navy, carried out four major river actions on the ships NAsH Dr. Montenegro and NA Pará, to bring early diagnosis of breast cancer to riverine and indigenous women in the Amazon region.

First stop: a journey with the Auxiliary Ship Pará

The first river action of 2025 took place in January on board the Auxiliary Ship Pará, which visited four municipalities: Antônio Lemos, Afuá and Breves located in the states of Pará and Santana in Amapá. During the 11-day expedition, 284 people were assisted, amounting to 1,136 visits, including mammograms, complementary mammography tests and reception services.

As part of the initiative, six women with suspicious tests for breast cancer were included in the NGO's Patient Navigation Program and began to receive follow-up care with mastologists and undergo additional tests, all financed by the organization - care that continues even after the ship's departure, guaranteeing continuity of care.

Hospital Assistance Ship Dr. Montenegro: navigating lives through the Amazon

Between February and June, the Dr. Montenegro Hospital Care Ship sailed the rivers of the Amazon to provide medical care to riverside regions. The expedition passed through eight municipalities in Amazonas - Carauari, Eirunipé, Itapiranga, Juruá, São Sebastião do Uatumã, Silves, Tefé and Urucurituba, - and four in Acre, Cruzeiro do Sul, Marechal Thaumaturgo, Porto Walter and Rodrigues Alves.

Over the course of almost five months, more than 4,748 appointments were made, benefiting 1,187 people. The services included mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and medical guidance, with a focus on continuous and humanized care.

The initiative reaffirms the commitment to bringing quality healthcare to the most remote populations in the northern region, through technology, specialized care and empathy, which are fundamental to ensuring the right to health.

The impact of initiatives

Taken together, the four river actions carried out by Américas Amigas reveal a robust and transformative impact:

1,471 people assisted
5,884 calls made
21 suspected cases identified and navigated
3 confirmed breast cancer diagnoses to date

In regions where the supply of medical services is limited and river transportation is the only means of access, the joint action of Américas Amigas and the Brazilian Navy is an effective response to inequalities in access to health.

A journey of care

These missions rely on the commitment of health professionals, volunteers and the logistics structure of the Brazilian Navy. At each stage, we work in harmony with the local communities, respecting their cultures and offering the best in hospitality and humanized health care.

In this scenario, Américas Amigas' Patient Navigation Program has proved to be fundamental. Through the program, women with suspicious exams are followed up individually until the diagnosis is clarified.

Support this journey

Américas Amigas' river actions are the result of the trust and commitment of those who believe in the fundamental right of access to health - whether through resources, time or commitment. With each donation, we expand our operations in the Amazon region.