Panama
Primary Health Care Clinic Model
Chapters provide primary health care services to small, under resourced, rural communities with limited to no access to medical care. Physicians provide patient consults and prescribe treatment for acute illnesses. Students work in triage, shadow physicians, provide education workshops, and help to distribute medicine in the pharmacy as well as help to build capacity of community health workers (CHWs) on chronic illness screening techniques.
Scarce health infrastructure (including lack of health professionals, medicines, and technology), economic and geographical barriers, and weak intercultural understanding all make it difficult for indigenous and rural populations to gain access to health care services. For these reasons, the Medical Brigades program is working to close the health inequality gap in partner communities.
Medical Brigade –
7 Day Sample Schedule
On the first day after arriving in Panama, volunteers will learn about rural Panamanian healthcare and economic needs during their Holistic Model day, which can be focused either on the Business, Public Health or Water programs. Then volunteers will prepare for the mobile clinic and pack supplies and medications into appropriate doses. For the next four days, volunteers 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, potentially a vision station, and a pharmacy station. At the end of the Brigade, volunteers will have a chance to reflect on their brigade experience and ensure all data from the clinic days are inputted into the OpenMRS system.
Medical Internship –
14 Day Overview
Medical Internships provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of community needs and healthcare access. In addition to receiving introductions to Global Brigades’ Holistic Model and the medical program, interns prepare for their time abroad with virtual programming and telehealth clinic days before the in-country portion of the internship. During their two weeks abroad, participants shadow licensed healthcare professionals at mobile medical clinics that assist hundreds of community members.
| 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 | |
Volunteer Donation Goal
In order to participate in a Medical Brigade, all volunteers must meet a Donation Goal, this is not considered a payment, but support toward our Global Brigades’ Holistic Model. Once a volunteer meets a set Donation Goal, they are eligible to join us on-the-ground to see their fundraising efforts put into action by participating in a Medical Brigade.
When a volunteer participates in a Medical Brigade, the volunteer’s ground transportation, food, lodging, and emergency insurance are all covered. The funding that the volunteer raised also supports all the necessary costs for program implementation, such as 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 volunteers to book airfare and incorporate the airfare expense into the volunteer’s Donation Goal.
2022-2023 Panama 7-day Medical Brigade USD –
2022-2023 Panama 7-day Medical Brigade CAD –
2022-2023 Panama 7-day Medical Brigade GBP –
*The donation goals listed above are for volunteers joining an existing Global Medical Brigades (GMB) Chapter on a university campus, with a brigade group size of at least 18 volunteers. Scholarship opportunities are available for volunteers to meet their Donation Goal by starting or referring a new chapter. Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Medical Brigade.
Sustainable Health Fund
A portion of each Donation Goal supports our Sustainable Health Fund which enables year-round health care in partner communities carried out by our local teams. Specifically, the Fund supports initiatives of the medical program that enable sustainable transitions such as the Community Health Workers, Patient Referrals, Community Pharmacy, and the on-going impact evaluation of the program.
Safety
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.
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;
- 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;
- Adherence 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 Vista Lago Eco Resort
This camp is the first on the GB expansion route to the Veraguas area. It has extensive landscapes, a beautiful lake on the side of the camp. Large areas for recreation. It has a restaurant specializing in typical Panamanian and international food. It has rooms on several floors from which you can see a beautiful view of the whole panorama.
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
Hostal Amador
Hostal Amador is located in the Canal Zone, previously know as U.S. territory. Here, brigaders can enjoy a wonderful view of the beautiful nature around the Hostel. Global Brigades Panama began using this hostel 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.
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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.
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