Public Health Minister Dr. Altagracia Guzm?n Marcelino announced yesterday that Dominican recording star Juan Luis Guerra has agreed to finance the construction of one of the Ministry’s new neighborhood family health clinics. In an interview with the news daily El Siglo to discuss Ministry plans to create a series of neighborhood-based "Family Health Teams" throughout Santo Domingo, Dr. Guzm?n revealed that the popular Dominican artist has agreed to finance the construction of a model clinic to be located in El Caf? de Herrera. [In his new album, JLG has a song decrying the state of public health care in the DR.] Each of the "Teams" will try to provide primary health care to 500-700 families through neighborhood clinics equipped with small laboratories and manned by a doctor, a nurse, a social worker and a health educator. The clinics will offer vaccinations, pediatric attention, dental care and general check-ups. The concept is to take primary care to families turned off by crowded and poorly-equipped clinics at public hospitals, and in the process create a sort of "early warning system" to detect emerging health problems in the barrios. Clinics are already planned for the barrios of Domingo Savio, El Capotillo, Gualey, La Zurza, Maria Auxiliadora, Sim?n Bol?var and 24 de Abril.
