The U.S. Embassy in Panama, working with the U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program, has donated more than 1,100 residential water filters to 11 communities in the Azuero region. The donation also included 11 air conditioners, three projectors, three laptops, one dental chair, and six medical kits for the José Daniel Crespo School in Chitré. This effort was coordinated with Panama’s Ministries of Health and Commerce and Industry, as well as local government officials.
According to embassy representatives, the water filters are designed for easy use and can be attached to most faucets or bottles. The initiative aims to give over a thousand households reliable access to clean drinking water. This recent donation follows previous efforts on July 21 and 22 that provided 1,136 residential water filters to households and schools in the region.
Residents across Las Tablas district are expected to see improvements in health due to better access to safe water.
“Today’s donation of water filters is more than just a gesture of goodwill — it is a tangible example of how our cooperation in security and other areas directly benefits the people of Panama. It also highlights that our partnership extends beyond security to include humanitarian efforts as well,” said U.S. Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera.
Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Julio Moltó, commented: “The United States is a strategic partner of Panama in many areas: trade, investment, security, and now also in humanitarian response. We value this cooperation because it is based on mutual respect, equality, and the pursuit of shared benefits. That is how we understand and strengthen our bilateral relations.”
Vice-Minister of Health Dr. Manuel Zambrano Chang added: “Today, with gratitude, we witness the donation of 1,136 water filters by the government of the United States, through its embassy in our country and the Humanitarian Assistance Program of the Southern Command. This contribution assists and strengthens the commitment of our Ministry, as well as that of the government of His Excellency, the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino Quintero, to ensure access to quality drinking water for our population.”
The U.S. Southern Command’s Humanitarian Assistance Program has invested over $55 million in Panama during the past two decades on projects including school construction and essential infrastructure.