Yesterday, President Leonel Fernandez led the first of several Government Council Meetings to be held between now and 27 February with the aim of defining the different ministries’ priorities. During the meeting, he ordered that measures be taken to get rid of the contaminated lagoon that is located on Nunez de Caceres Avenue, and approved the refurbishment of the country’s main hospitals. He also approved the launch of operations of a national ambulance network and the disbursement of RD$1.13 billion to be used for the construction of new classrooms and the purchase of school equipment. According to a report in Diario Libre, yesterday’s session focused on health, education and social policies. Other objectives for this year are the inauguration of the National Immunization Center in January, the application of the National Health Plan at the end of March, the launch of the Pro-millennium program consisting of an integrated system of 18 mobile health clinics for the border region, which will provide specialized assistance in pediatrics, gyno-obstetrics, general and internal medicine. These clinics will be located in Pedernales, Independencia, Baoruco, San Juan, Santiago Rodriguez, Dajabon and Montecristi. During the first quarter of 2006, construction will begin for the Sanitary City in Santo Domingo Norte. Among the 17 hospitals that are to be refurbished are all those in the National District, Cabral y Baez and Arturo Grullon in Santiago, San Vicente de Paul in San Francisco de Macoris and Jaime Mote in Barahona. The Ministry of Education plans to strengthen community participation, certify personnel working in the educational system, discuss with the Ministry of Higher Education and universities how to increase the quality of Dominican students and make international cooperation more effective.