U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera joined Panama’s First Lady and health officials on February 11 to mark the end of a major medical mission. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) ophthalmology team performed 50 sight-restoring surgeries at Santo Tomás Hospital in Panama City.
This mission forms a key part of the expanded “Juntos por la Salud” or “Together for Health” initiative. It represents a direct channel for U.S.-Panama security cooperation focused on humanitarian aid.
Medical Mission Delivers Life Changing Surgeries
Operating from February 3 to 11, the joint U.S. and Panamanian medical teams achieved significant results. Their work included eight complex corneal transplant procedures using tissue donated from the United States. They also addressed cataracts and pterygium, a growth on the eye’s surface.
Ambassador kevin marino cabrera emphasized the human impact during the closing ceremony. He observed the immediate difference these procedures made for families.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, our long friendship with Panama is based on the shared goal of improving lives and exchanging medical expertise between our countries,” said Ambassador Cabrera. [Translated from Spanish] “Health is essential to that goal. We have witnessed the human impact of these surgeries firsthand – seeing a father able to look upon his child again and a grandmother regain her independence.”
The mission’s success was a collaborative effort. The Office of Panama’s first lady and the Ministry of Health (Panama) helped coordinate the effort. This partnership ensured resources reached patients directly through public hospitals.
Expanding a Legacy of Health Cooperation
SOUTHCOM’s medical engagement in Panama is not new. The command has conducted these specialized eye missions since 2013, providing care to over 2,000 Panamanians nationwide. Just last year, teams performed 250 surgeries at a hospital in Veraguas province.
The 2026 program, however, is vastly more ambitious. At the formal request of Panamanian authorities, the united states will deploy a wider array of medical specialists. The plan includes trauma, infectious disease, cardiology, and OB/GYN teams visiting 27 locations.
This expanded initiative aims to provide direct care for more than 10,000 patients. It follows the model of offering direct support without intermediary organizations. The “Juntos por la Salud” program also recently supported Santo Tomás Hospital with an endoscopy team that treated 78 patients.
Ambassador marino cabrera framed the mission as a cornerstone of bilateral relations. The focus remains on strengthening communities through shared expertise and tangible aid. This latest surgery mission underscores a continued commitment to regional health security and stability.