That the first edition of The Doctor – Lidia Sogandares. The first Panamanian doctor by the journalist Vannie Arrocha a few months after its launch, is a sign of the interest that exists in this historical figure of medicine.
The biography, which responds to an investigation of several years, reaches its second revised edition. This includes, for example, a 1934 letter written in Lidia’s own handwriting; as well as a 1923 photo taken by Carlos Endara, which belongs to the Mario Lewis Collection.
The second edition consists of 500 copies and is available at Babilonia Editores, Librería Cultural and will soon be at El Hombre de la Mancha.
In addition to giving an account of the life and work of Sogandares, this book also tells about the problem of sexual health and reproductive health of Panamanian women throughout the 20th century. Teenage pregnancy, non-responsible parenthood, family planning, multiparity and sexual education were La Doctora’s concerns, social problems that the country has not yet overcome.
About the author
In her journalistic work, Vannie Arrocha focused on issues of health and women’s rights. She is the author of the poems And for this skin color. She is also a co-author of Pioneers of science in Panama and of science pelaitasworks of the International Center for Political and Social Studies, and SENACYT.
