By Sgt. Jabari Middleton, U.S. Southern Command

Azuero, Panama — A team of U.S. service members conducted a three-day humanitarian mission to Azuero from May 19-21, providing medical care to local communities across the Panamanian province.

The mission aimed to improve access to health care for remote communities while giving U.S. personnel valuable experience operating in isolated environments.

“The Panamanian government selected the Azuero Peninsula due to its remote communities in the provinces of Herrera and Los Santos, including areas near the city of Chitré.” said Capt. Courtney Moss, mission commander assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo. “This mission enhances medical and deployment readiness training in remote environments.”

In addition to enhancing deployment readiness training in isolated environments, the mission aimed to improve access to medical resources in areas where major medical facilities are several hours away, while also strengthening relations between U.S. forces and Panama.

“We are supporting both the towns of Bayano and Pesé,” Moss said. “We are providing general medical and dental services, including gynecological care.”

Throughout the three-day effort, U.S. service members operated out of Escuela Carlos Espino, a local school, and MINSA CAPSI Luis José Varela, a public health care center.

Personnel provided a wide range of free medical services and procedures to residents in the area.

The locations were selected based on the variety of medical cases not commonly seen in the United States and to help address limited access to medical resources in remote communities.

“Missions like this provide care for local communities that they may not regularly receive due to limited access to health care,” Moss said.

In addition to treatment, medical personnel also emphasized preventive health education throughout the mission.

“It also provides preventive education, such as proper handwashing techniques and the benefits of brushing teeth,” Moss added.

Patients of all ages lined up to receive care during the mission, with many traveling long distances from surrounding regions with assistance from Panamanian security services. More than 500 Panamanian civilians received care throughout the mission.

“More than 50 personnel were involved in helping,” Moss said. “Each day, we treated approximately 100 to 200 patients.”

U.S. service members and Panamanian medical staff worked alongside one another throughout the mission, combining resources and sharing knowledge to ensure civilians received proper care.

“I hope to continue with these missions because it’s important for the people. The people need help from organizations and compassion,” said Rubieric Barrios, a doctor from Centro de Salud Valle Rico. “As doctors, we need to see specifically everything they need, and everything is important to us.”

For many local residents, the visit to the two communities provided a rare opportunity to receive comprehensive medical care.

“This is more than a medical mission. This is both countries working together to help people,” Barrios said. “In this area, they have one doctor every 15 days. This mission provided an opportunity for over 500 people to get the medicine and care they need.”

These missions are part of an ongoing effort not only to strengthen partnerships but also to improve operational effectiveness and lay the groundwork for future humanitarian missions throughout the region.

Although the mission lasted only three days, its impact will continue long after the personnel depart. For many residents, the medical care they received will directly improve their quality of life for years to come.