Leishmaniasis (often called “leish” or ‘peeko de vay-hoo-co’ by the Ngabe) is a tropical skin infection found in Panama. In Panama, Leshmaniasis exists in a natural reservoir of sloths and anteaters and is then passed to humans by female sandflies (chitras). Once infected, a small red bump will appear on the skin, turn into […]
BULLDOGS IN BOCAS: Adventures of Reach Out Panama 2013
MARCH 10TH: TRAVEL AND FIRST DAY IN BOCAS DEL TORO The adventure began with a small group of eager travelers. We waited during these beginnings: waited for the train to take us into New York, waited to get out of the frigid cold airport, and waited to arrive at Panama. And after hours of travel, we […]
“The Long Run” by Tessa & Dennis Linderman
Early September mornings found us running through the streets of Bocas, trying to get a workout in before the heat of the day was upon us. Volunteering with Floating Doctors for a month, we got to see a different side of Bocas in those early mornings. We watched the firemen cleaning off their truck and […]
“But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts…” -Hippocratic Oath Blog by Dr. Claire Antoszewski
There comes a time in any journey, when initial prejudices have been shed and before nostalgia settles, when one can see things as they are. I spent the month of October working with Floating Doctors, and for me that moment came while traveling from Bocas town to Kusapin on the panga, the group’s small run-about […]
One Life…Length: Indeterminate. -by Dr. Ben
“If we listened to our intellect we’d never have a love affair. We’d never have a friendship. We’d never go in business because we’d be cynical: “It’s gonna go wrong.” Or “She’s going to hurt me.” Or,” I’ve had a couple of bad love affairs, so therefore . . .” Well, that’s nonsense. You’re going to miss […]
“Boundaries” by Volunteer Rosabelle Conover
The balcony of the warehouse where I reside faces a swamp. As I drink my coffee in the morning, the roar of incoming airplanes at the airport on my left funnels hundreds of tourists to Bocas del Toro. On the right lies a mangrove swamp where the indigenous community of La Solucion teeters atop houses and shops built […]
Peace Corps Eye-View of A Floating Doctors Mission
“Lifeboat Chronicles” July 29, 2012 Blog by Las Tablas Peace Corps Volunteer Doug Martin Sometimes, early in the morning, the mist from overnight rain storms envelopes the town and hides her from outsiders. Sometimes the murky brown waters of the Sixaola River creep higher and higher until they stumble up and over the only road […]
HIV in Bahia Azul
“Turning a ‘No’ Into a ‘Yes’–How To Adapt Your Mission For Success When Conditions Change” Blog by Volunteer Doctor Jordan Amor-Robertson, MD (Pediatrics; Australia) On my last weekend with the Floating Doctors a multiday clinic was scheduled in Bahia Azul (Bluefields), a Ngobe village which is on the mainland, however is only accessible by sea. […]
Lightning Doesn’t Strike Twice, But Thrice…
Blog by Volunteer Doctor Jesus Niebla, MD (United Kingdom) I am a man who before this trip was scared (well I’d say apprehensive) of heights, mountain paths with sheer drops and free running river crossings. I was not too fond of thunderstorms either. In the early hours of the 16th of July I set off […]
To: Los Angeles With all my love and heart: Sky Blue
I believe everything that we do in this life has a cost and a benefit associated with it—at times the cost that you pay for the decision you have made far out weighs any benefit you may gain while the profit that you get from another totally justifies the negatives. A cynic would say I […]