Silvia Salina Montezuma

Born on May 10, 1963, in the remote community of Hato Loro in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, Silvia Salina Montezuma’s life is a powerful story of resilience, healing, and leadership rooted in tradition. Orphaned at the age of two and raised by an adoptive family in Las Lajas, Silvia faced adversity from the start. Yet these early challenges shaped a woman of extraordinary strength—one who would rise to become a national voice for indigenous health and a respected bridge between ancestral wisdom and modern care.

From a young age, Silvia carried a deep sense of purpose. After completing her primary education, she returned to her comarca and began raising a family of eight children—five of whom survived, while three passed away. Through her lived experiences of motherhood, loss, and community service, Silvia discovered her calling as a traditional midwife. Her early work extended far beyond birth attendance: she was an educator, a health promoter, and an advocate for her people. Her journey is not only one of survival—it is one of transformation, fueled by compassion, cultural pride, and unshakable faith.

Between 1991 and 1998, Silvia completed a rigorous three-year training for volunteer health promoters organized by Jesuit missionaries at Nuestra Virgen del Camino in San Félix. This included seminars in reproductive health and midwifery. She also traveled across Central America to exchange traditional knowledge and raise awareness about sexually transmitted infections in rural communities.

In 1995, she was elected president of Partera Comarcal, and in 1999, helped unify midwives and traditional healers in the coalition Desarrollo de la Medicina Tradicional Natural Ngäbe. She served as its coordinator, then secretary general, and later president—working entirely as a volunteer. For over two decades, Silvia has been at the forefront of efforts to elevate traditional medicine and protect indigenous health sovereignty in the region.

In 2019, Silvia was invited by Dr. Miriam Rittmeyer, president of Phalarope, to join a new maternal and child health initiative in Panama. She became a key leader in the Manchichi program—named after the Ngäbere word for “mother and child.” Not only does Silvia serve as a seasoned trainer, preparing traditional midwives to act as care navigators and identify high-risk pregnancies, but she also plays a vital role as cultural and community liaison between Phalarope and indigenous communities, ensuring trust, respect, and mutual understanding guide every step of the program.

Despite enduring unimaginable losses—including the passing of three children and later a daughter during the pandemic—Silvia continues to serve with humility, faith, and a profound sense of purpose. Today, she is the proud mother of five and grandmother of twenty. Her life is a living testament to the strength of indigenous women and the enduring power of community care.

At Phalarope, we are honored to walk beside Silvia, whose wisdom lights the way toward a more equitable, compassionate, and culturally grounded future for mothers and children across Panama. Her experience and vision will continue to shape our programs and elevate indigenous voices at the center of health and development.