The United States and Panama signed a memorandum on Wednesday to cooperate on health matters and prevent diseases such as HIV, which will be valid for three years and involves a joint investment of $33.5 million. The U.S. Department of State detailed that the objective of the agreement, the first of its kind on the continent, is 'to protect Americans from the threats of infectious diseases and to accelerate Panama's progress towards sustainable and country-led health systems.' According to the department's press release, Washington plans to provide up to $22.5 million over the next three years, with congressional approval, to support Panama's efforts in the fight against HIV and to strengthen disease surveillance systems. In turn, the Government of Panama commits to increasing its internal health spending by more than $11 million. The initiative seeks to strengthen the capacity of Panama's laboratories to identify and contain health threats at their source, preventing their spread at the regional level and to the United States. The agreement also highlights the expansion of decentralized primary care services in rural and hard-to-reach areas, focused on priority infectious diseases. The memorandum is part of the 'America First' foreign assistance agenda of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. To date, the Department of State has signed 18 similar memoranda with African nations and Panama.
