Dominican Republic

About the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and is the most popular tourist destination in the Caribbean. Yet nearly 1 in 3 people still live below the poverty line.

While health indicators have steadily improved over the past few decades, significant inequities remain — especially for the country’s poorest women and children. The country has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in the region, and maternal mortality is on the rise.

The Challenges

Neonatal and maternal mortality

The reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality is a top priority for the national health agenda.
The Dominican Republic has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in Latin America, even though most births take place in hospitals.

In 2018, 20 of every 1,000 babies didn’t survive past the first 28 days of life — a rate five times higher than the U.S. Most of these babies are born to poor families — neonatal mortality is three times higher for babies born into low-income families.

Maternal mortality is also a major health concern. In 2018, there were 104 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, up from 95 deaths per 100,000 births in 2017.

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS

The Dominican Republic has taken notable measures to combat and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While new infections are on the decline, progress has slowed, and the health system often struggles to supply patients with affordable treatment and care. There is also stigma and discrimination associated with the virus, making it difficult for some to access care and find or keep a job.

Bringing HOPE to the Dominican Republic

Our history in the Dominican Republic

Project HOPE’s work in the Dominican Republic began in 1996 when we partnered with the Dominican Association of the Order of Malta to increase access to affordable, quality care for women, newborns, and children in underserved communities.

Improving maternal, newborn, and child health remains the central focus of our work in the country, but we have also led community outreach on HIV/AIDS (including the youth-focused USAID Alerta Joven program) and the Zika virus.

Protecting maternal and neonatal health

In partnership with the Dominican Order of Malta, HOPE has established three maternal and child health clinics over the last 20 years.

We are currently working to reduce neonatal mortality at two of the country’s largest maternity hospitals. To do so, we’re focused on improving the capacity of health care workers and delivering equipment essential for neonatal survival, like vital sign monitors, radiant warmers, ventilators, and incubators.

Read: Saving the Newborn in the Dominican Republic

Training and equipping health workers

Training health workers is key to improving health outcomes for mothers, newborns, and children.

Working alongside national and local partners, HOPE supported the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Health in establishing a national post-graduate education program on obstetrics and neonatal care for nurses.

HOPE empowers nurses with training to save lives and to teach others how to better care for themselves and for their families, often following our 5 Stars model. This innovative maternal care strategy encourages completion of essential health services for women throughout pregnancy and the first five years of the child’s life. HOPE is now developing a mobile app to deliver the model to expectant mothers in an easy-to-follow digital format, which will further support health education during pregnancy and early childhood, as well as better communication between health providers and patients.

Protecting communities against COVID-19

With support from partners, HOPE has distributed personal protective equipment for frontline health workers in response to COVID-19. We have also delivered virtual training and ramped up contact tracing to help health workers better treat and track COVID-19 in their communities.

Learn more about HOPE’s ongoing response to COVID-19

Our Impact

Over the past two decades, HOPE has donated millions of dollars of vaccines, medicines, and pharmaceutical supplies to the Ministry of Health, which have been distributed to all health facilities across the Dominican Republic. In 2008, Project HOPE received the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella from the Dominican government in recognition of these contributions.

Our teams have also trained hundreds of local health workers and provided direct medical support in hospitals and clinics. The three clinics HOPE established serve around 150,000 patients every year — most of them mothers and children. In October 2019, the National Health Service reported a 31% reduction in maternal mortality and a 25% reduction in neonatal mortality, thanks to support from HOPE.

Our work has also received recognition from the Pan-American Health Organization, the National Commission for Breastfeeding, and the National Immunization Program.