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Report of the Frederick Regional
Council
The Panama Medical Project By Jo Ellen Nutter
I knew that I was to be a nurse when I was 5 years old. I never wavered far from that. When I was 12 I was sitting in youth group listening to a mission presentation; I knew right then that I was to be a missionary when I grew up. It took 40 years for my dream to become a reality, but, here I am. I am a volunteer missioner with the Episcopal Church assigned to the Diocese of Panama as the director of operations for The Panama Medical Project. I have been serving in this capacity since October 2006. In that time we have offered approximately 1,700 doctor visits to those in need. The goal of The Panama Medical Project is to have medical work occurring in each of the six regions of the Episcopal Church in Panama. The objectives are to offer one three-day clinic with U.S. partners per year and return to the communities monthly with a Panamanian team. The unique quality
Panama is the size of South Carolina and has approximately three and a half million people. The capital city has streets that remind you of New York City and in stark contrast, streets that remind you that you are definitely not in New York City. There are pockets of deep poverty through out the country. There are many people who do not have access to healthcare due to topographical and economic factors. It is these needy people that we serve. I feel so much joy as I watch people from all walks of life both from Panama and the U.S. come together to offer loving gifts of service. As we come together and overcome our cultural, language and economic differences to truly become the body of Christ it is a sight to behold. Over the course of the three days of the clinic there is a transformation; people from Panama who would never have chatted with each other before embrace each other as the clinic closes, children who were scared of us two days prior play with us and happily look at their images in our digital cameras, people who do not speak the same language communicate in other ways, people who had been unable to access healthcare have had a doctors visit, medicines, prayer and referrals free of charge without leaving their community. Jo Ellen Nutter is a member of All Saints' Parish, Frederick. She is a registered nurse and a volunteer missioner with the Episcopal Church. In addition to The Panama Medical Project, Nutter is the executive director of hasta inc., a non-profit organization founded to help people who have difficulty accessing healthcare in third-world countries. joellennutter@yahoo.com Reprinted from the Fall 2007 Maryland Church News, Diocese of Maryland
This page was posted on December 13, 2007 | ||
of the project is the commitment to a
partnership between the community served, the
Ministry of Health (government health department)
and the Diocese of Panama and the Episcopal Church.
We offer a doctor visit, pharmacy services and
health education free of charge. We collaborate
with the Ministry of Health to coordinate follow-up
care for chronic health issues.