Programs and Events

April 12, 2006

Health Care Arrives in Darien

Free health care brought 890 Panamanians to Santa Fe, Panama as part of a bilateral medical readiness training exercise between the United States and Panama that started this week. Patients in remote sections of Panama will benefit from a health care team of experts in family practice, pediatrics, gynecology, optometry and dentistry. Additionally, the medical team was able to dispense limited medications and prescription eyeglasses, give basic immunizations and perform pap smears.

“This is the first time, we have done this sort of collaborative medical readiness training exercise in the Darien,” said Lt. Col Dr. Kevin Murphy, a dentist from Patrick Air Force Base in Satellite Beach, Fla., who organized the project with Dr. Antonio Holder from the Panamanian Ministry of Health. “Just judging from the kinds of health problems we have seen and the large number of patients we’ve helped, it’s clear we’re providing a much needed service.”

The project lasts for approximately 10 days and will go on the road, visiting four towns in remote areas of Panama before concluding on April 19 on Isla del Rey of the Pearl Islands.

“While indeed this project is a unique cooperative effort between U.S. and Panamanian physicians and nurses, providing health care to areas of Panama is not new,” said U.S. Ambassador William Eaton. “The U.S. Peace Corps. and many other foundations and nonprofit organizations have been in remote areas of Panama, working to improve health care as best they can. This medical readiness exercise is just the latest in a long line of U.S. health care efforts as a result of our commitment to Panama.”