Panama
Travel to the Central American country of Panama to participate in sustainable medical clinics provided to residents in rural communities with limited access to healthcare.
Indigenous and rural populations in this country often have difficulty gaining access to healthcare services due to:
- Scarce health infrastructure (including lack of health professionals, medicines, and technology)
- Economic and geographical barriers
- Weak intercultural understanding
For these reasons, the Medical Brigades program is working to close the health inequality gap in partner communities.
What You’ll Do During a Brigade in Panama
When your Brigade Chapter travels to Panama, you’ll participate in preventative healthcare clinics in small, under resourced, rural communities with limited to no access to medical care. Clinics are conducted with the local Department of Health, local healthcare professionals, and trained community health workers (CHWs) who work in these partner communities year-round.
To develop an understanding of community needs and healthcare access, you’ll first learn about rural Panamian healthcare and economic needs during a Holistic Model day, which can be focused either on the Business, Public Health, or Water programs.
For the next 4 days, you will work with healthcare professionals during mobile medical clinics, providing assistance to hundreds of patients. Clinics consist of:
- Intake
- Triage
- Consultations
- Dental stations
- Educational workshops
- A vision station (during some, but not all, Brigades)
- A pharmacy station
At the end of the Brigade, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect on your Brigade experience and ensure all data from the clinic days are inputted into the OpenMRS system.
Before returning home, you’ll even have a chance to learn more about Panamian culture.
7-Day Sample Brigade Schedule
Planning your Brigade in Panama? Check out this sample schedule outlining the typical 7-day trip your Chapter will attend.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Pick up and Transport to Lodging Facility | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Breakfast | Airport Departure & Check-In | |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | Transport to Community | |||
| 9:00am | Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | |||
| 10:00am | ||||||||
| 11:00am | ||||||||
| 12:00pm | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |||
| 1:00pm | Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | Medical Clinic | |||
| 2:00pm | ||||||||
| 3:00pm | ||||||||
| 4:00pm | Settle In | Medications Packing | ||||||
| 5:00pm | Introduction to Global Brigades | Transport to Lodging Facility | Transport to Lodging Facility | Transport to Lodging Facility | Transport to Lodging Facility | |||
| 6:00pm | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | Dinner | |||
| 7:00pm | Dinner | Medical/Dental Program Introduction | Reflection (Panama Health System) | Reflection (HCP exchange) | Reflection | Final Reflection, Pack Up! | ||
| 8:00pm | Holistic Model Overview/Discussion | |||||||
| 9:00pm | Mock Clinic | Data Informatics | ||||||
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM | |||||||
| Day 1 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Pick up and Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Settle In |
| 5:00pm | Introduction to Global Brigades |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm | Holistic Model Overview/Discussion |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 2 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | Medications Packing |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Medical/Dental Program Introduction |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Mock Clinic |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 3 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Medical Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Medical Clinic |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection (Panama Health System) |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Data Informatics |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 4 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Medical Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Medical Clinic |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection (HCP exchange) |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Data Informatics |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 5 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Medical Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Medical Clinic |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Reflection |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | Data Informatics |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 6 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Breakfast |
| 8:00am | Transport to Community |
| 9:00am | Medical Clinic |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Medical Clinic |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | Transport to Lodging Facility |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:00pm | Final Reflection, Pack Up! |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | Lights off in Dining Room by 10:00 PM and in Dorms by 11:00 PM |
| Day 7 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00am | Airport Departure and Check-In |
| 8:00am | |
| 9:00am | |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | |
| 1:00pm | |
| 2:00pm | |
| 3:00pm | |
| 4:00pm | |
| 5:00pm | |
| 6:00pm | |
| 7:00pm | |
| 8:00pm | |
| 9:00pm | |
| 10:00pm | |
Costs and Fundraising
In order to participate in a Medical Brigade, all volunteers must meet a Donation Goal by fundraising as part of their commitment to a Brigades Chapter. This is not considered a payment for a specific trip, but support towards Global Brigades’ Holistic Model.
Donation Goals for Panama Brigades start at $1,400 USD, $1,690 CAD, or £962 GBP (based on the number of volunteers going).
Once you meet a set Donation Goal, you’re eligible to join us on the ground to see your fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Medical Brigade.
When you participate in a Medical Brigade, your ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding you raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as medications, equipment, local doctors, pharmacists, translators, and support staff.
Airfare is not included in the standard Donation Goal. However, Global Brigades’ travel team can work with your Brigade to book airfare and incorporate the airfare expense into your Donation Goal.
Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Medical Brigade.
Donation Goals for 2023-2024 Panama 7-Day Medical Brigades
| Volunteers | Donation Goal (USD) | Donation Goal (CAD) | Donation Goal (GBP) |
| 40+ | $1,400 USD | $1,690 CAD | £962 GBP |
| 26-39 | $1,450 USD | $1,807 CAD | £1,028 GBP |
| 14-25* | $1,490 USD | $1,937 CAD | £1,102 GBP |
*Chapters with 5-14 volunteers must be paired with another chapter.
Sustainable Health Fund
A portion of each Donation Goal supports our Sustainable Health Fund, which enables year-round healthcare in partner communities carried out by our local teams. Specifically, the Fund supports initiatives of the medical program that enable sustainable transitions toward the goal of becoming an Empowered Community.
These include the Community Health Workers, Patient Referrals, Community Pharmacy, and the on-going impact evaluation of the program.
Scholarships
Scholarship opportunities are available for volunteers to meet their Donation Goal by starting or referring a new chapter. These scholarships may cover a portion or all of the Donation Goal.
Volunteer safety will always be our absolute top priority. Global Brigades recently engaged Askari International Security, an industry leader in international risk assessment, to complete a comprehensive risk/safety assessment of all brigade operations.
A full explanation of safety precautions and procedures can be found on our “Safety & Insurance” page.
A Quote from Askari International Security
“I was asked to review Global Brigades safety and security procedures for their operations in Central America. I always use a “litmus test” by assessing whether I’d be happy to send my own daughters (late teens early 20’s) on one of their events. The answer was a resounding yes. I hope I was able to help them improve their processes and procedures, but what was already in place was good, but better still was the culture of safety and security. All the staff were concerned with safety and security and keen to improve. Nothing can ever be 100% secure or safe, but with Global Brigades I can genuinely say they care and take things very seriously.”
– Bryan Hemmings, Managing Director, Askari International Security
Safety Highlights in Panama
- Global Brigades is an active member of OSAC (the Overseas Security Advisory Committee) and receives up-to-date security and safety briefings from the U.S. State Department.
- We have an established relationship with Senafront to provide security escorts to those groups working in the Darien region.
- Full-time local Global Brigades medical personnel on-call at all times.
- We adhere to the IVPA standards of international volunteering.
Lodging Facilities
Global Brigades does an annual safety review of all lodging facility partners each year. Lodging facilities provide pillows, bedsheets, and towels. Facilities have showers, toilets, and sinks with running water (no hot water) as well as filtered clean drinking water dispensers onsite.
24-hour security is provided at all facilities. Conditions are most similar to a comfortable summer camp, with dormitory-style sleeping and shared bathrooms.
Medical Brigades are assigned to lodging facilities based on proximity to the partner community they will be working with.
Asamblea de Dios
Campamento Asambleas De Dios, San Carlos, Panama is a large facility that sits only about 800 meters from the main road(Via Panamericana) approximately 2 hours from Panama City. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. Global Brigades Panama has been using the San Carlos facility since March 2015. Emergency medical care is available at the Health Center in the town of San Carlos, approximately 2 minutes from this facility.
El Palmar
The El Palmar hostel sits along the Pan-American highway, approximately 30 minutes after passing Lago Bayano and approximately 10 minutes before reaching the town of Torti. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of a landscape full of green mountains and farms’ pastures. Global Brigades Panama has used El Palmar for several years, and it has housed hundreds of brigaders. Emergency medical care is easily accessible in Torti.
Hotel Avicar
Hotel Avicar sits along the Pan-American highway, approximately 40 minutes after passing Lago Bayano and is in the center of the town of Torti. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of a landscape full of green mountains and farms’ pastures. Also, brigaders staying at Hotel Avicar get see how life plays out in a rural town in East Panama. Emergency medical care is available
in Torti.
Hotel Tonosi
It is located on the Pan-American Highway in the Meteti sector, it has cozy rooms, of four and five people, with color television and air conditioning. It has a covered terrace and countryside landscapes. He is known for his good food and great hospitality.
Pro Niños
Pro Ninos was one of the first lodges used by GB in its trajectory in the Darien area. It is a beautiful camp in which you can enjoy its variable flora and fauna. It has wooded areas and open spaces to recreate in contact with nature.
Iguana Eco Resort
It is a wide place that offers the experience to the volunteers of being in contact with nature. It offers various activities such as hiking. It has cozy rooms with air conditioning, 2 swimming pools and a meeting area. It is located near the city of Penonomé. It is the ideal place to rest after a long day of work in the brigade
Oasis de Bendición
As the name implies, it is the ideal place to relax after a hard day. It has beautiful landscapes, spacious bedrooms with cabins to encourage coexistence among volunteers. It has a terrace for meetings, multiple areas for indoor recreational activities. It is located a few meters from the main road which provides good access to it.
Hotel Ojos del Rio
Hotel Ojos del Rio sits in the center of Panama City, about 40 minutes from Panama’s international airport. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of Panama City’s skyline. Global Brigades Panama began using this hotel in 2018 to accommodate any brigades that needed to stay in Panama City. Brigades do not typically stay in Panama City; Global Brigades Panama only uses this facility during emergencies and cases involving extenuating circumstances. Emergency medical care is available in several hospitals in the city.
Hotel Novotel
Novotel sits in the center of Panama City, about 40 minutes from Panama’s international airport. Here, brigaders enjoy a beautiful view of Panama City’s skyline. Global Brigades Panama began using this hotel in 2018 to accommodate any brigades that needed to stay in Panama City. Brigades do not typically stay in Panama City; Global Brigades Panama only uses this facility during emergencies and cases involving extenuating circumstances. Emergency medical care is available in several hospitals in the city
Join a Medical Brigade in Panama
Get in touch with our team to start a Medical Brigades Chapter or join an existing group traveling to Panama. Talk with our experienced staff about the impact you can make in under-resourced communities, available scholarship opportunities, and how this opportunity will connect you with other passionate students on your campus.
After filling out the form, we will be in touch to provide you with the next steps.
This DONATION is non-refundable
This DONATION is non-refundable Global Brigades, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation will be used to further Global Brigades' mission and will be allocated toward the program you selected. This donation will not be utilized to fulfill a chapter or a volunteer's fundraising goal. Read Global Brigades, Inc's full Donation Refund Policy here.
Looking to donate to support a volunteer's fundraising goal? Find their Global Brigades Chapter by searching our Chapters map and then selecting their upcoming brigade. If you need help finding their chapter, you can ask the volunteer to send you their brigade's specific website link or you can contact us.
By making this donation, I agree to the no-refund policy
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