Panama City Launches NutriCedi Meals for 804 Young Children
PANAMA CITY, July 24, 2026 – The Municipality of Panama launched NutriCedi, a program that will provide daily meals to 804 children between three months and five years old in 16 Centros de Desarrollo Infantil.
Telemetro reported that the program is planned for three years and will include food supplies, kitchen equipment, personnel to prepare menus and adequate facilities inside the child development centers.
The initiative is viral because early-childhood nutrition is one of the most emotionally immediate public services. Parents want to know whether children are eating safely, regularly and well while in municipal care.
Health-center professionals, nursing assistants, teachers, municipal social workers and cooks are expected to help supervise food quality and track children’s growth through height and weight monitoring.
The centers include locations in Alcalde Diaz, Betania, Calidonia, Santa Ana, El Chorrillo, Pueblo Nuevo, Rio Abajo, Juan Diaz, Pedregal, Tocumen, Caimitillo, Chilibre, Las Mananitas and San Martin.
Why it matters
Daily meals for young children can improve attendance, family stability and early development outcomes.
What happens next
The municipality will need to maintain food quality, kitchen staffing and growth monitoring throughout the three-year program.
