The delivery of 20 emergency response backpacks to the Ministry of Health will help strengthen care in communities and shelters where access to health services is limited.
Los Santos, Panama, 14 October 2026 (PAHO/WHO) – The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) delivered 20 emergency response backpacks, donated by Direct Relief, to Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) through the Los Santos Health Region to support health teams providing care in communities affected by the 9 October earthquake.
The backpacks, prepositioned in PAHO’s regional strategic reserve in Panama, are designed to facilitate care in communities and shelters where access to health facilities may be limited. They enable health workers to assess patients, treat wounds, control bleeding, immobilize injuries and provide initial care while arranging transfer, when necessary, to a facility with a higher level of care.
Each backpack contains essential supplies and equipment for providing care in the field, including tourniquets, splints, dressings and bandages for the initial management of injuries; stethoscopes, blood pressure monitors and pulse oximeters for clinical assessment; basic airway management and resuscitation devices; and personal protective equipment. They also include triage tools, portable lighting and other supplies to support care in challenging conditions.
“Following an earthquake, it is essential to bring health care closer to communities and shelters. These backpacks will enable health teams to provide initial care and identify people who need to be transferred, in line with the priorities established by the health authorities,” said Dr. Lilian Reneau Gaitán, PAHO/WHO Representative a.i. in Panama.
Dr. Luis DePasquale Barría, Deputy Director of the Los Santos Health Region, highlighted the importance of these resources in strengthening prehospital care and supporting the work of first responders in communities and shelters.
The delivery is part of the technical and operational cooperation that PAHO/WHO is providing to Panama’s Ministry of Health in response to the earthquake, as well as its collaboration with strategic partner Direct Relief to support health emergency preparedness and response.
Since the start of the emergency, PAHO/WHO has been working with health authorities to assess damage and needs at affected health facilities, analyze their operational capacity, and identify priority measures to maintain and restore essential services.
This cooperation aims to support national authorities and local teams in responding to the population’s immediate health needs, particularly in areas where the impact of the earthquake has made access to health services more difficult.
