By Sgt. Jabari Middleton, U.S. Southern Command
LLANOS ÑOPO, Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panamá — Teams of U.S. service members are conducting a two-week humanitarian mission to the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca from July 20 to Aug.1, providing medical care to the remote communities in the region.
“The Ministry of Health chose the location of Llanos Ñopo due to it being in a remote location and not receiving a lot of specialty care,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Nathanial Copeland, an infectious disease officer assigned to Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center. “This environment allows us the opportunity to provide specialty care to local communities for conditions not commonly treated with the resources they have available to them.”
The mission’s aim is to improve access to healthcare while also strengthening partnerships between Panama and the U.S. by providing free medical care to families and individuals who face challenges to receive treatment due to geographical proximity and limited resources.“It is important because it allows members of the community to get the care they need in the many mediums of health,” said Copeland. “The specialty care here goes a long way.”
Throughout the two-week effort, service members operated out of Hospital San Félix, Llano Ñopo Medical Clinic, and Sabanitas Medical Clinic, offering a wide range of services including general medical treatment, specialty care and procedures to residents of all ages in the region. “We have cardiology, obstetrician-gynecologist, general medicine, infectious disease, and family medicine experts all here for this mission,” said Copeland. “We are all capable of doing general medicine, but this environment allows us the opportunity to provide specialty care to the local communities.”
The collaboration left a lasting impact on U.S and Panamanian medical personnel who participated in the mission. “Missions like this allow us to share different ways in which we operate,” said Copeland. “It allows us the opportunity to learn from their medical personnel, and it is very beneficial for both parties.” U.S. service members and Panamanian medical personnel worked side-by-side, combining their expertise to make the mission a success.“After this experience I can say I had an opportunity to work with American doctors and I will value this experience,” said Raul Orozco-Flores, a Panama Ministry of Health nurse. “Working with the specialists closely and helping the community is something I hope I can be a part of again.”
The medical partnership not only enhanced the effectiveness of current missions, but also provided insight for future humanitarian missions in the region. Allowing for both U.S. and Panamanian medical personnel to develop a better understanding of the overall mission.
“It means a lot for the people in this region, especially to receive immediate care,” said Orozco-Flores. “It is a good thing to witness for the local community.” Though the mission spanned just two weeks, the care provided and relationships built are expected to leave a lasting impact on the communities it served.
