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 humanitarian reasons, the Dominican government makes available to the Haitian population the same free services as to Dominican nationals. Given the collapse of medical services in Haiti, the cost allocated to the Haitian population is escalating.
Reports are that in a large number of local public hospitals, Haitian births are a majority. Among these are 76% in La Altagracia; 66% in Independencia, 65% in Pedernaqles, 62% in Dajabón and Montecristi; 61% in Valverde, 51% in El Seibo, 54% in Santiago, 53% in Espaillat, 50% in La Vega and San Jose de Ocoa.
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El Nuevo Diario
18 November 2024