Government Help

Although I’ve talked about many of the problems I’ve observed here, there are also many good efforts being made by the government, particularly with the schools. One of the biggest health problems many of the kids have is malnutrition. Those who live in town do relatively well. Diets here consist mostly of rice, beans, and corn-based foods, which are generally served with some type of meat; however children who live further out from town and are poorer do not get even this much. For them meat is a luxury, meaning many are deficient of protein. The majority of their meals will consist of something to do with corn which provides calories but not nutrition. Furthermore, they probably are infected with parisites from contaminated water, which steal the little nutrition they may have. In order to combat this issue, the government provides a nutritive drink called La Crema, along with packs of nutritive cookies every day. There are volunteers at the school who prepare La Crema, which only requires mixing the vitamin powder with boiling water, and distributing the cookies. In addition, once a week the students receive an extra vitamin tablet with La Crema. Other important aid provided includes a monthly unit of flouride and vaccinations during flu season which are administered in the school as needed.

One of the future needs of the school which I hope to address is getting them a proper kitchen. I wish the internet connection were strong enough to upload the photos so you could see what kind of conditions the food is stored and prepared in. There is only one small room with bare concrete floor, little light, and a few wobbly tables and benches to serve about six hundred students every day between the elementary and secondary school. The actual ‘kitchen’ is actual out back, and is typical of rural Panama. It is outdoors with a metal roof, supported by four posts. There are two concrete blocks which rocks are set on to prop up a very large cooking pot, and a fire is made beneath with wood which is stored nearby. Given the fact that the school doesn’t do too much cooking right now, they can get by. Beginning this month though the school is going to start receiving shipments of food supplies every 3 months in order to provide lunches for the students. This is a remarkable opportunity. Right now students have to bring their own food (if they have it), or purchase unhealthy snacks during recess (if they have any money) if they’re going to eat. For many though neither of these are realistic options. Can you imagine how a six-year-old is supposed to concentrate in class after walking two-and-a-half hours to school and get through the day without any food? Clearly providing lunches is fundamental to providing a good education as well as promoting the students’ overall health. Given their current kitchen though, this will be a difficult task. This is something I hope to help them with in the future.