Author: spieper

Ronnie De Gracia, a paramedic who has dedicated eight years to providing free medical care for Panama City’s homeless population, received the top honor at the Heroes for Panama 2025 gala. The nationally televised event on TVN not only recognized his humanitarian work but also awarded him a full scholarship to pursue his long-delayed medical degree. His victory represents a pivotal moment for both his future and the marginalized communities he serves. The emotional award ceremony culminated years of struggle for De Gracia, who had repeatedly been denied educational funding despite his clear commitment to public health. His work, entirely…

A Colombian soldier sustained severe injuries after stepping on a landmine in a remote jungle region along the Panama border. A joint rescue operation involving Colombian and Panamanian forces successfully evacuated the wounded soldier by helicopter on Wednesday. He was transported to a specialized medical clinic for emergency treatment. The incident occurred in the dense frontier zone of the Chocó department, an area known for its difficult terrain and persistent security challenges. Military officials reported that the soldier was on a routine patrol when an Anti-personnel mine detonated. His colleagues provided immediate first aid at the scene, stabilizing him for…

Twenty nine sixth grade students at Our Lady of Fatima School in El Chorrillo are handcrafting Advent wreaths as part of their spiritual preparation for the Christmas season. The project, coordinated with their teacher advisor and religion instructor, teaches the tradition’s significance ahead of the first Sunday of Advent. These circular wreaths with four candles serve as a visual countdown to Christmas across Christian communities worldwide.The students have learned the specific meaning behind each element of the wreath, from the evergreen foliage symbolizing eternal life to the four candles representing hope, peace, joy, and love. They plan to light the…

Panama City hosted a community health fair this Thursday focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and regular medical checkups for older adults. The event drew a large crowd of seniors aiming to reinforce the principles of active and healthy aging through education and personal responsibility. Attendees shared powerful messages about taking charge of their own well-being during the gathering.Organizers designed the fair to provide crucial information and motivation. They emphasized that preventive healthcare is the most effective strategy for maintaining quality of life in later years. The Ministry of Health used the platform to reiterate its official stance on the necessity…

Panama Metro authorities have cleared dozens of informal street vendors from the 24 de Diciembre station in their latest operation to reclaim public spaces. More than 40 vendors were removed from the area this week despite requesting an extension to remain. The transit system says these efforts aim to guarantee safe areas for Metro users while creating orderly environments around critical infrastructure.This operation represents the fourth major eviction in an ongoing campaign targeting vendor congestion around Metro stations. Authorities previously cleared areas surrounding the 5 de Mayo station, where merchants had occupied the space for years before voluntarily withdrawing. Similar…

Naturgy Panama will conduct extensive maintenance on its electrical infrastructure from December 1 to December 7, 2025. The company confirmed the scheduled work this week, which is part of a larger four-year investment plan. These essential upgrades aim to enhance service reliability for customers throughout the country. Company officials acknowledged the potential for temporary inconveniences. They emphasized that the proactive maintenance is crucial for improving the overall health of the national electrical grid. The work will involve various systems and is designed to prevent future unplanned outages. Major Investment in Panama’s Energy Future This maintenance forms a key component of…

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino officially opened the new Bugaba district hospital this Thursday, November 27. The facility, located in the Chiriquí Province, culminates a 14 year wait for local residents after numerous construction delays plagued the project. Mulino declared the completed hospital the finest in the entire province during the inauguration ceremony. He specifically acknowledged the persistent efforts of the Bugaba community, whose constant pressure he credited for the project’s final delivery. The president noted that construction workers had promised him the hospital would be ready exactly one year prior, a commitment that has now been fulfilled. “I thank…

Panama is commemorating the 204th anniversary of its separation from Spain today with a vibrant series of parades, official ceremonies, and cultural activities across the nation. Thousands of students, public officials, and musical bands filled the streets starting early this morning to honor the historic events of November 28, 1821. This date marks one of the most significant milestones in the country’s journey toward sovereignty.Local governments and municipalities scheduled their formal programs to begin at 7:00 a.m. The ceremonies started with the traditional raising of the Panamanian flag and speeches dedicated to the patriotic occasion. Student delegations then proceeded to…

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino has issued a direct order to merge the country’s two parallel public health systems. He delivered his forceful instructions during a public address this Thursday, demanding swift and tangible progress on a long-delayed reform. The president’s command signals a new urgency for unifying the Ministry of Health (Panama) and the Social Security Fund (Panama), institutions whose operational overlap has historically complicated patient care and driven up public costs. Mulino’s message leaves no room for bureaucratic delay. He explicitly targeted the structural inefficiency of maintaining separate hospital networks in close proximity. The president’s firm stance represents…

New data from the United Nations reveals a contrasting economic picture for Latin America in 2024. While regional poverty rates have fallen significantly, Panama stands out as one of the few nations where income inequality has actually worsened over the past decade. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) published its annual social panorama report this week, highlighting these persistent structural challenges.Monetary poverty across the region dropped to 25.5 percent of the population this year. That figure represents a 2.2 percentage point decrease from 2023 and a more than seven point decline from the pandemic’s peak impact…