With the collapse of social services in Haiti, more and more Haitians are traveling to the Dominican Republic to receive free medical services. Diario Libre reports that the Maternidad San Lorenzo de Los Mina, the largest public facility in Greater Santo Domingo, now attends to an almost equal split of 50% of Haitians and 50% Dominicans. This is up from 35% in the past.
Dr. Leonardo Aquino, director of the public maternity hospital, says so far this year more than 6,000 Haitians have given birth at the hospital. As reported in Diario Libre, of the 6,000 cases, 50 to 53% are of Haitian origin, or around 3,000. Venezuelans giving birth here make up 3-5%, or around 300 mothers.
The story in Diario Libre highlights that many of the cases attended at the hospital arrive with complications, adding to the cost that is being picked up by Dominican taxpayers.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
2 November 2022