Public Health Minister Freddy Hidalgo says that 52% of pregnant women receiving care at Dominican border hospitals are Haitian. He said that public hospitals provided two million consultations to Haitian patients in 2013.
On a national level, 18% of patients seen are Haitians. He commented on the heavy burden of seeing such large numbers of Haitians who visit the centers every day.
He made these comments during an interview with Hector Herrera Cabral for his Channel 11 D’Agenda TV show on Sunday, 24 August 2014.
Hidalgo said the European Union should finance the construction of hospitals on the Haitian side of the border. He said that if necessary, the Dominican Republic could staff the hospitals.
During the interview, Hidalgo also mentioned that 70% of traffic accidents in the country involved drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Hidalgo also pointed out the extensive program underway to build and repair public hospitals, and success in the reduction of tuberculosis, human rabies, cholera and leptospirosis nationwide.
Regarding the Ebola virus, he said a special area would be located at a public hospital. Listin Diario reported that the center would be located at the Dr. Ney Arias Lora Trauma hospital in eastern Santo Domingo. Another two are planned for the National District and Santiago.
Read more in Spanish: http://www.listindiario.com.do/la-republica/2014/8/24/334898/Centros-dieron-2-millones-de-consultas-a-hatianos