Global Brigades is an international non-profit that empowers communities to meet their health and economic goals through university volunteers and local teams.

Panama

Mobile Dental Clinics

Limited access to adequate dental professionals, facilities, supplies and equipment makes dental care in both rural and indigenous communities throughout Panama one of its largest health care challenge. Despite the importance of oral health, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) has revealed that 92% of the population suffers from various dental diseases due to poor oral hygiene and eating habits. With limited to no access to care in rural areas, an enormous population is left in chronic pain and at risk for infection and other related disease.

In order to improve dental care access in remote areas, chapters will work with our team of local dentists to implement mobile dental clinics directly inside our partner communities. Volunteers work under the direction of our local professionals to support triage, intake and pharmacy while also having the opportunity to shadow our dentists perform extractions, cleanings, fillings and administer fluoride treatments. Volunteers also take the lead in delivering oral health and cavity prevention workshops.

panama2

Dental 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 on either Medical, Business, Public Health, or Water programs. Then volunteers will prepare for the mobile clinic by packing supplies and medications into appropriate doses for the following clinic days. For the next four days, volunteers will shadow dentists throughout the clinics, where they will provide assistance to hundreds of community members. The dental clinics consist of five stations; the surgical station, the intake station, the cleaning station, the post-op instructions station, and the education station. The volunteers will shadow a dental professional in the surgical station, and be assisting in the remaining four. 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.

Dental Internship –
14 Day Overview

Dental Internships provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of community needs and dental healthcare challenges. To gain context on the work they’ll be doing, interns prepare for their time abroad with virtual programming led by in-country staff that focuses on the culture of where they will be working, local challenges to healthcare access, and how Global Brigades fits in. During their two weeks abroad, participants work closely with licensed local dental professionals, shadowing them during mobile dental clinics in under-resourced communities. Additionally, interns shadow in the surgical station and assist in the intake station, cleaning station, post-op instructions station, and education station.
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
6:00am Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community Transport to Community Transport to Community Transport to Community Transport to Community Breakfast
8:00am
9:00am Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program Dental Clinic Dental Clinic Dental Clinic Dental Clinic Transport to Airport & Airline Check in
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
1:00pm Holistic Model Day – Either working with Caja or CHW Program Dental Clinic Dental Clinic Dental Clinic Dental Clinic
2:00pm
3:00pm Settle In
4:00pm Introduction to Global Brigades Medications Packing Transport to Lodging Facility Transport to Lodging Facility Transport to Lodging Facility Transport to Lodging Facility
5:00pm Free Time Free Time Free Time Free Time
6:00pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner
7:00pm Holistic Model Overview/Discussion Medical/Dental Program Introduction Reflection & Data Informatics Training Reflection & Discussion Reflection & Discussion Reflection & Discussion
8:00pm
Day 1
6:00am Airport Pick up & Transport to Lodging Facility
7:00am
8:00am
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:00pm Settle In
4:00pm Introduction to Global Brigades
5:00pm
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Holistic Model Overview/Discussion
8:00pm
Day 2
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community
8:00am
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
Day 3
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community
8:00am
9:00am Dental Clinic
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Dental Clinic
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm Transport to Lodging Facility
5:00pm Free Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Reflection & Data Informatics Training
8:00pm
Day 4
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community
8:00am
9:00am Dental Clinic
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Dental Clinic
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm Transport to Lodging Facility
5:00pm Free Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Reflection & Discussion
8:00pm
Day 5
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community
8:00am
9:00am Dental Clinic
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Dental Clinic
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm Transport to Lodging Facility
5:00pm Free Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Reflection & Discussion
8:00pm
Day 6
6:00am Breakfast
7:00am Transport to Community
8:00am
9:00am Dental Clinic
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Dental Clinic
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm Transport to Lodging Facility
5:00pm Free Time
6:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Reflection & Discussion
8:00pm
Day 7
6:00am
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am
9:00am Transport to Airport & Airline Check In
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:00pm
2:00pm
3:00pm
4:00pm
5:00pm
6:00pm
7:00pm
8:00pm

Volunteer Donation Goal

In order to participate in a Dental 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 Dental Brigade.

When a volunteer participates in a Dental 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 dentists, 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 Dental Brigade USD –

2022-2023 Panama 7-day Dental Brigade CAD –

2022-2023 Panama 7-day Dental Brigade GBP –

*Chapters with 5-17 volunteers, must be paired with another chapter.

*The donation goals listed above are for volunteers joining an existing Global Dental Brigades (GDB) 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 to a new chapter. Once a volunteer meets their Donation Goal, they have up to 1 year to participate in a Dental 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/Entrepreneurs, Patient Referrals, Community Pharmacy, and the ongoing 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.

Dental 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 is a large facility located in San Carlos, Panama just 2 hours outside of Panama City. Here, volunteers can take in a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. GB Panama has been utilizing this facility since March 2015.

Emergency medical care is available in San Carlos, approximately 2 minutes from this facility.

El Palmar

The El Palmar hostel sits along the Pan-American highway, between Lago Bayano and the town of Torti. Here, volunteers can enjoy beautiful landscapes. GB Panama has utilized El Palmar for several years and has housed hundreds of brigaders.

Emergency medical care is available in Torti.

Hotel Avicar

Hotel Avicar sits along the Pan-American highway in the center of the town of Torti. Here, volunteers can enjoy beautiful views of green mountains and pastures, as well as experience a rural town in East Panama.

Emergency medical care is available in Torti.

Hotel Tonosi

Hotel Tonosi is located on the Pan-American highway in Panama’s Meteti sector. The facility includes cozy, air conditioned rooms that fit four to five people, a covered terrace with countryside landscapes, and a reputation for great food and hospitality.

Pro Niños

Pro Niños was among the first lodges utilized by GB in the Darien area of Panama. The facility includes wooded areas and open recreational areas that encourage volunteers to connect with nature.

Iguana Eco Resort

La Iguana Eco Resort is a spacious facility that connects volunteers to nature. Various activities, including hiking and swimming, are available on the property. The facility includes cozy rooms with air conditioning and is located near the city of Penonomé.

Campamento Oasis de Bendición

Just as its name implies, Campamento Oasis de Bendición is a wonderful place to recharge after a clinic day. The facility includes beautiful landscapes with a terrace for meetings, space for indoor recreational activities, and cabins that encourage coexistence among fellow volunteers. It’s located just a few meters from the main road.

Hotel Vista Lago Eco Resort

Hotel Vista Lago Eco Resort is among the first of GB’s expansion to the Veraguas area. The facility includes vast landscapes, a beautiful lake on the side of the camp, recreational areas, and a restaurant specializing in typical Panamanian food. Multiple floors of rooms all provide panoramic views of the facility’s beautiful scenery.

Hotel Ojos del Rio

Hotel Ojos del Rio sits in the center of Panama City, about 40 minutes from Panama’s international airport. Here, volunteers can 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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