While significant progress has been made in developing the urban areas of Panama, much of the medical care in the more rural, austere, and remote parts of the country is reactive rather than preemptive, with basic routine screenings being a luxury for most. Many children in these areas never receive screenings for dental, vision, or hearing problems, leading to preventable health and learning complications. These complications reduce their ability to learn and thrive in school, thereby increasing their vulnerability to recruitment by gangs and criminal organizations.

Panamanian dentists in action applying protective sealants to teeth.

In an effort to help the Panamanian government provide this much needed medical treatment, screening, and education to at-risk children, deployed US troops are working with the government of Panama, Lions Club, Spirit of America, and a US based dentist, Dr. David Guerra, to provide protective sealants for children’s molars, preventative screenings for hearing and vision, and dental hygiene classes.

This student is ready to get the protective sealants put onto his molars.

With your support, Spirit of America will donate dental chairs and equipment to make this and future similar events happen, ultimately providing dental care and health screenings to at-risk populations and reducing the likelihood of preventable medical and learning complications. At the same time, this project will help build a stronger relationship between US troops and their Panamanian partners as they work together to fight transnational crime and support Panama as it moves toward a more secure future.