Carnival 2025 Panama Will Begin Activities Sunday March Second

• Carnival in Panama is a vibrant festival that takes place over four days leading up to Ash Wednesday.
• It's one of the biggest festivals in Panama and Latin America.
• The festival is celebrated with dancing, music, food, and drink.
• It's a mix of culture, folklore, and entertainment that attracts visitors from around the world.

Other Carnival dates in 2025

• Carnival / Shrove Monday : Monday, March 3
• Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day : Tuesday, March 4

Carnival in Panama

• Carnival in Panama is not a public holiday, so most businesses will be open as normal on Sunday, March 2.
• The Paradise Carnival in 2025 will take place from February 28 to March 4 in Isla Colon.

Panama City: Every year, Carnival in Panama brings with it days of partying, music and debauchery. However, health experts warn of a worrying consequence: the threat of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI's) and the registration of these in increasingly younger people. Dr. Carlos Chavez, national head of the HIV/AIDS section of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), confirmed that the most prevalent STI's in the country currently are HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia, with a sustained increase in the last five years. According to the specialist, the number of patients who go to medical institutions to undergo tests for sexually transmitted infections increases considerably every year in the months following the Carnival season; however, many positive cases are detected late.

Increase in Cases in the Last Five Years

The figures reflect an alarming growth, especially among young people between 15 and 34 years old. The specialist provided a detail about the cases:

🔹Syphilis: In 2019, 2,553 cases were reported in ages 25 to 35. By 2024, the preliminary number has risen to 3,925 , with a significant increase in young people aged 15 to 24.

🔹Gonorrhea: In 2019, 831 cases were recorded. In 2024, the number has risen to 1,081 , doubling in the 20-34 age group.

🔹HIV: In 2023, the number of cases closed at 1,974 . By November 2024, the preliminary report indicates 1,500 new cases , with the highest concentration in Panama Metro, the Ngäbe-Buglé region, and San Miguelito .

Chavéz clarified that when the incidence rate is analyzed by population density, the Ngäbe-Buglé region is the most affected region, followed by Bocas del Toro and San Miguelito.

But what is Happening with Young People?

Chavez recalled that previously there were very few or no cases in this age group, but in recent years this figure has changed significantly. Factors such as starting a sexual life at an earlier age, alcohol or drug use and the debauchery that many young people live in are variables that contribute to this statistic.“At this time of year, when carnivals happen, people make excessive use of alcohol and this can lead to people reducing protective measures, especially the use of condoms and also with whom they have sex ,” he observed.

Late Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges

One of the biggest challenges facing the public health system today is that almost 30% of young people diagnosed with STIs do so in advanced stages, which complicates their treatment. This is due to fear, lack of information and social stigma, said the doctor. We have 27 antiretroviral therapy clinics throughout Panama and these clinics are available to people and in these clinics the staff is trained to provide comprehensive HIV services, free of discrimination, meaning that no person who goes to a facility such as an antiretroviral therapy clinic will be stigmatized or discriminated against because the staff is already sensitized and handles the subject of HIV very well,” he said. He recalled that in Panama, a young person aged 16 or older can take an HIV test without the consent of an adult. In addition, antiretroviral treatment is free, regardless of whether the person has social security or not. “You could go to a health facility and get tested for HIV if you have any suspicions or concerns or if you have had unprotected sex,” he said.

Investment and Coverage in the Health System to Treat HIV

Although Panama currently has coverage of around 71 to 75% of people already identified with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy, there is concern that between 3,000 and 5,000 people diagnosed with HIV are not receiving treatment. Chavez mentioned that“one of the main causes is the stigma of discrimination that is associated with this disease, which is one of the barriers that prevents people from seeking timely treatment.” STI treatment represents a significant cost for the health system. In the case of HIV:

• Annual antiretroviral therapy for a person without complications, that is, AIDS stage: Costs $420.70.
• Treatment for people with advanced HIV or opportunistic infections: $14.5 million is allocated annually.

Prevention and campaign during Carnival 2025

The Ministry of Health has strengthened its preventive strategies by distributing some 20,000 protection kits that include condoms, lubricants and educational materials in different parts of the country during the holidays. The specialist called on people who will celebrate carnival:

🔹 Use a condom correctly during all sexual relations.

🔹 If you are in a high-risk relationship, get tested promptly.

🔹 Go to health centers to receive information and treatment without fear or discrimination.

For thousands of people nationwide, Carnival is a celebration that is eagerly awaited, but its impact on public health is a reality that should not be ignored. Any timely diagnosis could, in the case of HIV, quickly reduce the viral load and make the person completely un-transmittable, and in the case of another sexually transmitted infection, it could prevent the lesions from worsening and causing some complications,” he stressed.

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