Residents of the district of San Miguelito benefited on Saturday, June 11, from various free medical services through the health fair in the community of Amelia Denis de Icaza implemented in coordination with the San Miguelito Health Region of the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as a measure of health promotion, disease prevention, and integration of communities through education on how to access basic services.

The activity began at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 1:00 p.m. in the facilities of the 9 de Enero School, where the registration process of parents, children, adolescents, and the elderly took place early on so they could receive attention on the specialties of pediatric care, general medicine, nutrition, dentistry, vaccination, among others. In addition, psychological counseling and legal advice were provided by the specialists of the Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible de Panamá (FUNDESPA).

Additionally, some local institutions participated, such as the National Institute for Women (INAMU), the Municipality of San Miguelito, the Communal Board of Amelia Denis de Icaza, the Asociación Panameña para el Planeamiento de la Familia (APLAFA), the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA), the Ministry of Labour and Professional Development (MITRADEL), the Ombudsperson's Office, the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (SENNIAF).

Specialists from the Zoonosis Program of MINSA’s Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance provided medical care and vaccinations to more than a hundred dogs and cats, pets of the residents of the area.

A complete vaccination schedule was applied for children aged 5 years or younger, as well as vaccines against COVID-19, blood pressure, weight and height were taken. After receiving the attention they needed, people advanced to other rooms to meet and receive care from the services of other participating institutions, and where health promoters and IOM staff spoke about self-care and mental health, hand washing, and guidance on good nutrition.

Likewise, specialists from the Vector Control Directorate of the San Miguelito Health Region gave presentations on the prevention of diseases that transmit vectors such as the aedes aegipty mosquitoes.

Many people also benefited from free medications prescribed by the medical specialists.

These actions were carried out within the framework of the project "Promoting peaceful coexistence in the COVID-19 response for migrants, refugees and other vulnerable populations in Central America and the Caribbean", implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and funded by the European Union’s Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (ICsP). The program aims to promote integration and peaceful coexistence by improving the health response, community participation and protection environment of affected communities.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team via iompanama@iom.int.