Nicanor

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

Nicanor is located in Darien Province, District of Pinogana, Panama and started to work with Global Brigades back in 2012. People in Nicanor are primarily dedicated to agriculture with own terrain and cattle raising, the houses are often made of cement blocks and bricks, and the community does not have access to a community bank, nor a health post.

Global Brigades is currently working with Medical and Dental brigades in Nicanor and the community is on the wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama

Province: Darien

District: Pinogana

Homes : 80
Population : 550
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started
% of Homes with Latrines : 98%

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Even though Panama is a country with a lot of economic growth, this growth does not apply equally to all Panamanians, especially those in rural areas. This results in stark inequality when it comes to healthcare access. The Panamanian Ministry of Health (MINSA) provides two different types of health facilities throughout rural Panama: Centros de Salud and Puestos de Salud. Centros are the larger of the two, often found in municipalities, and typically have at least one physician on staff at all times with nurses and potentially a dentist. Puestos are found sporadically in rural communities and generally have a single nurse available. 

432

Medical Volunteers

1,250

Patient Consultations

49

Health Education Workshops

42

Vision screenings provided

Health Post : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:

GB Panama’s Medical Dental team started the Agentes Comunitarios en Salud or ACeS program in 2016. “Agentes” from 10 communities in East Panama and Darien were Panama’s first community health workers. Nicanor doesn’t have Community Health Workers in training yet but Global Brigades is actively working on implementing this program.

Some of the CHW’s primary responsibilities include:

  • Promoting healthy practices and maintaining contact with GB staff about their progress
  • Performing First Aid in the case of an emergency
  • Managing the Patient Referral cases of the community
  • Promoting involvement with other GB programs such as Human Rights, Public Health and Microfinance workshops
  • Recording and monitoring members of their respective communities who:
    • Are pregnant
    • Have a chronic disease
    • Are children under five
      years old.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN NICANOR:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Pennsylvania State University Medical March 2012 65 University of Washington Medical August 2012 30
State University of New York (SUNY) Stony Brook Medical May 2013 44 Pennsylvania State University Medical March 2014 38
Oakland University Medical May 2015 43 California State University East Bay Medical June 2016 32
Santa Clara University Medical March 2017 36 University of Central Florida Medical March 2019 30
University of California Irvine Medical June 2019 30  University of Waterloo, Western University & St. George’s University of London Medical August 2022 27
University of Mississippi March 2024 17

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE ACCESS

A dental Charla in a community in Panama

In working closely with the medical program, the dental program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of medical brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of dentists within a reasonable distance.

556

Patient Consultations

109

Number of Extractions

248

Fluoride Treatments

2

Fillings Performed

1

Dental Education Workshops

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN NICANOR:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
California State University East Bay Medical June 2016 32 Santa Clara University Medical March 2017 36
University of Central Florida Medical March 2019 30 University of California Irvine Medical June 2019 30
University of Mississippi March 2024 17

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Nicanor but has not yet begun with the Water Program. If there is a need, the Water Program will begin implementing a new water system or any necessary repairs to existing infrastructure as soon as feasible.

Water System : No
% Homes with Access to Water : N/A
Water Council : N/A

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Nicanor but has not yet begun with the Business Program. The implementation of microfinance literacy will start as soon as feasible.

 

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Nicanor but has not yet begun with the Public Health Program. The implementation of public health services and the improvement of infrastructure will start as soon as feasible.

% Homes with Latrines : N/A
% Homes with Eco-Stoves : N/A
% Homes with Water FIlters : N/A
% Homes with concrete floors : N/A
% Homes with bath/showers : N/A
Common House Materials : N/A

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature