In the Field: Rotary & Phalarope – Saving Lives from the Mountains to the Coast, Panama
As part of the second Rotary Global Grant led by the Rotary Club of Boquete in partnership with Phalarope, a binational team of Rotarians, health professionals, and local trainers conducted field evaluations to assess the impact of the Manchichi Care Navigation Program—an intercultural initiative designed to reduce maternal mortality in Panama.
The evaluation unfolded in two phases. The first mission took the team deep into the mountain communities of the Ngäbe-Buglé region, where midwives trained through Manchichi demonstrated how they are applying new clinical and monitoring skills in some of the most isolated villages. In communities without electricity or phone service, these women now form the first line of care—measuring blood pressure, detecting early warning signs, referring complicated pregnancies, and ensuring timely hospital transfers. Their commitment has already saved lives, including mothers with pre-eclampsia and newborns who might otherwise have been lost. Read more about the mountain trip
The second phase reached the coastal communities of Kusapín, accessible only by boat through unpredictable seas. There, traditional midwives and healers showcased how ancestral knowledge and modern training can work hand in hand. Evaluations confirmed that these Health Navigators provide continuous prenatal and postpartum care, supported by medical mentors and local trainers. Despite limited resources, they are creating a resilient system of maternal and newborn health—one built on trust, cultural respect, and professional competence.
Across both mountain and coastal regions, the Rotary–Phalarope team observed the same powerful truth: when communities are equipped, connected, and valued, lives are saved. Through training, monitoring, and partnerships with the Ministry of Health, the Manchichi program is proving that care navigation from the community outward can transform access to maternal and neonatal care in even the most remote corners of Panama.