Panama continues to strengthen its efforts to eliminate communicable diseases and build a more resilient health system. From November 18 to 22, a High-Level Mission organized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ministry of Health (MINSA) of Panama was carried out, with the aim of analyzing the progress of the Initiative for the Elimination of Communicable Diseases, developing and presenting the National Plan for Elimination 2025-2030.

The Region of the Americas has demonstrated global leadership in disease elimination. The eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the elimination of polio are historical milestones. At the beginning of 2024, 19 countries were free of malaria and 11 countries had stopped the transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to child.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fragility of our health systems and has generated setbacks in some achievements. Now, more than ever, we must redouble our efforts to accelerate the elimination of diseases and build a healthier future for all.

This initiative, approved by PAHO member states in 2019, seeks to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases through a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the care of specific diseases.

In recent months, PAHO and MINSA have made significant progress in the implementation of the Elimination Initiative in Panama. Through two previous preparatory workshops, the main priorities have been identified and the bases for the elaboration of the National Plan have been established. This High-Level Mission has allowed us to deepen the analysis of the current situation and define the concrete actions to be followed in the coming years.

The main objective of the Mission is to know the current progress in the elimination of communicable diseases in Panama, develop a detailed preliminary national plan for the coming years and strengthen collaboration between the institutions involved.

The 5-day day was attended by the Deputy Director of PAHO, regional advisors and advisors from the PAHO office in Panama. On the part of the country, advisors to the Minister of Health, national directors, heads of national programs, technical staff and delegates from key institutions such as the Social Security Fund, the Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies (ICGES) and the Ministries of Agricultural Development and Environment participated. Representatives of the University of Panama and international organizations (UNICEF, FAO, OMSA, World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank) and international cooperation (JICA, AECID, and the French Embassy) also attended.

In the mission week, a workshop was held focused on identifying capacities, gaps and potential solutions in the four lines of action of the Elimination Initiative. Visits were also made to the Nicolás Solano Hospital of the West Panama Health Region and the Veracruz Health Center of the Metropolitan Health Region, to learn about the operation of the health system and the programs in the local reality.

The Elimination Initiative promotes a comprehensive approach that covers four lines of action:

• Strengthening the integration of health systems and services: Improving the quality and efficiency of health services.
• Strengthening information and surveillance systems: Improve the ability to detect and respond to epidemic outbreaks.
• Address social and environmental determinants: Reduce exposure to environmental and social risk factors.
• Strengthening governance, governance and funding: Improve the coordination and management of health programs.

On November 22, 2024, Dr. Reina Roa, Director General of Health at MINSA, officially presented the preliminary national plan for the elimination of communicable diseases. Dr. Roa highlighted that this plan categorizes the 30 diseases included in the initiative into three groups according to their complexity of elimination: those that can be eliminated in the short term, diseases that require more intensive efforts and those whose state of elimination must be monitored.

During the launch of the National Plan, Dr. Ana Rivière Cinnamond, representative of PAHO/WHO in Panama, expressed her gratitude to all the participants and key actors, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional collaboration, international cooperation and United Nations organizations to achieve the objectives of the initiative. “The elimination of diseases is a joint effort that requires the commitment of all sectors,” said Dr. Rivière Cinnamond.

With this initiative, PAHO and MINSA reaffirm their commitment to the health of their population and joins regional efforts to eliminate communicable diseases. By strengthening its health system and adopting a preventive approach, Panama is taking an important step towards a healthier future for all its citizens.