Day 4: Culture & Global Health








 Today I observed how different the healthcare system in Panama is compared to the United States. In the U.S., many people have easier access to services such as dental care and common medications like acetaminophen. In the community we served, access to these resources is much more limited, and people may only receive care when volunteer clinics are available. Limited resources also influenced how care was delivered. In the dental clinic, we had to clean and reuse instruments because there were not enough supplies for every patient. We had to wait for them to dry before using them again, which slowed the process and caused longer wait times. One assumption I had was that we would have enough resources to help everyone, but that was not the case. For example, the dental team could only see about twenty patients due to limited time and supplies. This experience expanded my understanding of global health and reminded me how fortunate we are in the United States. A strength I see in this community is their unity and gratitude. Despite challenges, they support each other and are very appreciative of the care they receive. I am grateful to witness this experience and to have the opportunity to serve others.

Xoxo 💋 


Comments

  1. Felecia SernaMarch 16, 2026 at 4:51 AM

    What an experience being in the dental clinic and seeing that process of how they clean and sterilize between patients and how different that is from the United States. They are very unified, I agree, family seems so important and they all come together to help.

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