NPR Story on HIV in Indigenous Panama Community Wins Indigenous Media Award

A story NPR published last year on the HIV epidemic in an Indigenous community in Panama has won an Indigenous Media Award, recognizing reporting that brings attention to a public health challenge shaped by barriers to care and persistent stigma.

Hundreds of Indigenous people in the Ngäbe-Buglé territory are living with HIV, despite free prevention and treatment medication. Limited sexual education, the cost and difficulty of traveling to clinics, and fear of discrimination can hinder access to testing and treatment.

The story highlights the role of culturally informed reporting in elevating community experiences and public health challenges that might otherwise receive limited attention. Read the original story by NPR from January 2025 called, “Why are so many Indigenous Panamanians contracting HIV — and dying of AIDS?” here.