Panama City, 25 February 2026 – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Panama convened a Strategic Alignment Workshop to advance baseline trachoma surveys aimed at assessing the presence of the disease and improving care for the most vulnerable populations in priority areas of the country. This initiative is part of a regional effort supported by the Government of Canada and implemented by PAHO.
The workshop brought together national and regional health authorities from the Ministry of Health, PAHO technical experts, and key partners to align on the operational and technical aspects of the surveys, which will be conducted in Darién province and the Indigenous Comarcas of Ngäbe-Buglé and Emberá Wounaan. Using internationally standardized methodologies consistent with PAHO/WHO guidelines, the surveys will generate robust evidence on the presence of trachoma in Panama.
Participants reviewed progress on the survey protocol and reached agreement on key steps for field implementation, including logistics, resource requirements, training of field teams, and data collection strategies. Discussions also addressed case management pathways for trachomatous trichiasis, referral systems, and coordination mechanisms between national and regional health authorities.
The baseline surveys will be conducted across two evaluation units and are expected to include the examination of children aged 1–9 years for active trachoma and adults aged 15 years and older for advanced trachoma. This effort will strengthen Panama's surveillance capacity and contribute to the regional goal of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in the Americas.
Trachoma is one of over 30 communicable diseases and related conditions PAHO aims to eliminate by 2030 through its Elimination Initiative.
