President talks health, students protest research cuts

Patients of Panamas’s Social Security system, (CSS) joined demonstrating students, on Transismica on Thursday, Sep. 27. The students were protesting budget cuts to the University of Panama medical and science research projects. The patients were bemoaning the absence of medicines and were joined by construction workers

As massive traffic jams developed across the city  President, Juan Carlos Varela and the Minister of Health, Miguel Mayo,  were participating in a conference on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases.

Varela,  still recovering from his gaff at the UN  presented the concerns of the Panamanian State, the progress and commitments to those suffering.

“Noncommunicable diseases have causes of various kinds, which requires a global approach, which goes beyond the health sector and also considers social, economic and environmental factors,” the president said.

In the country a preventive strategy is implemented to avoid noncommunicable diseases, he said, mentioning the Preventive Health Census, where patients are evaluated to create a clinical history with diagnoses.

At the same time, there is an educational promotion that is being carried out for the healthy nutrition in the population and in the schools, regulating by law a better access to healthy foods and lifestyles.

Varela explained that the state’s commitment is to keep the population healthy  with hygiene, education and a balanced diet.