DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Tunel de Conectividad, a section of the Show del Mediodia variety show on Channel 9, reported last week on what goes on at the Los Minas Maternity Hospital in eastern Santo Domingo, El Nuevo Diario shared with its readers. The Los Minas public hospital has been dubbed “La Maternite” because it caters to Haitian women. Telerealidad reporter, Daniel Lajara ascertained that most of the births are to women 15 to 24 years, who do not speak Spanish and are described as most likely being recent arrivals who enter to receive the birthing services. The journalist ascertained that the birthing travel business continues, despite the government’s efforts to reduce mass migration from Haiti.

The Dominican government has complained that RD$10 billion a year is allocated for birthing services to the Haitian population, as in a report presented to the United Nations. For...