Regional Health-Care Training School

About two years ago, while attending a meeting of the Health Ministers in Central America, I listened to a discussion related to a common need they have for skilled medical workers. The Minister of Health of Panamá at the time was Camillo Alleyne. He proposed at the meeting the creation of a regional center where the countries could jointly train workers.

As I listened to the discussion, I could see the vision of the school was smart, and it represented a way the United States could help the entire Central American region at the same time. I began to help them with their proposal, and now, less than two years later, we have a functioning school with a terrific facility, offering training to students all over the region.

There is a long story here that I hope to write at some point, but I just want to say that Friday while in Central America, I visited the school and attended the first meeting of its Board of Directors. I was able to visit a class of forty students from four countries who couldn’t have been more excited about what they were learning and the relationships they were making.

Students from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Panama listen to Secretary Mike Leavitt at the Regional Health Care Training Center in Panama.

This school is going to be a major source of good in the region and I couldn’t be more proud about the United States’ prominent role.

Later in the day, President Torrijos invited me to the Presidential palace for a meeting. He has been supportive of the center. We spoke for about 40 minutes about a wide range of subjects.