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.
Dental Brigade –
7 Day Sample Schedule
On the first day after arriving in Panama, volunteers and dentists will begin work in the community by performing dental screenings to help them better understand the urgent dental needs of the community and prepare for their dental clinics. Later, they will pack medications and prepare supplies for the following clinic days. For the next three 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. Volunteers will provide clinics for two days in a larger community and one day in a smaller community, so that they develop a broader understanding of oral health care needs and access in Panama. On the final day of Brigade, volunteers will host an educational workshop for community members to discuss disease prevention and best practice for dental hygiene. Lastly, they will participate in a cultural exchange activity to end their Brigade in Panama.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00am | Airport Pick up and 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 Water, PH, or working with Caja | 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 Water, PH, or working with Caja | 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 and 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 Water, PH, or working with Caja |
| 10:00am | |
| 11:00am | |
| 12:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00pm | Holistic Model Day – Either Water, PH, or working with Caja |
| 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 medications, 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.
2020 Panama 7 day Dental Brigade –
*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 25 volunteers. Scholarship opportunities are available for volunteers to meet their Donation Goal by starting or referring a new chapter. Options to brigade for 12 days with 2 different programs are also available. 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, 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.
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, 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.
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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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