Panama health and education ministries coordinate school wellness strategies

The Panamanian Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) held an interinstitutional meeting to evaluate the progress of the 2024-2030 Interinstitutional Work Plan. The initiative aims to integrate public health strategies within the educational environment to improve student wellbeing.

Key areas of focus include the implementation of the Health Promoting Schools methodological guide for Central America and the Dominican Republic. Specific objectives involve planning school health programs, establishing protocols for cleaning water storage tanks, and reviewing nutrition strategies such as healthy kiosks, deworming, and vaccination programs.

Additionally, the meeting addressed mental health through the strengthening of psychopedagogical cabinets and the supervision of school infrastructure to ensure sanitary conditions and biosecurity for students.