A total of 4,104 newborns benefited from the Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) method in the Dominican Republic during 2025, according to new data released by UNICEF. The figures, shared during a high-level site visit to the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital, bring the cumulative total of infants treated under this initiative in the Dominican Republic to 38,344 since 2020.
The report was presented to members of the UNICEF Business Advisory Council, who observed the implementation of the model designed specifically for premature infants or those with low birth weight.
Impact and methodology
The Kangaroo Mother Care method is a low-cost, high-impact intervention that prioritizes three pillars of neonatal health:
• Skin-to-skin contact between the infant and parents.
• Exclusive breastfeeding promotion.
• Continuous medical follow-up to reduce complications.
Carlos Carrera, UNICEF country representative, emphasized that the model transcends clinical survival. “This model not only contributes to saving lives but also strengthens family bonds within vulnerable contexts,” Carrera stated. Anyoli Sanabria, deputy representative, echoed this sentiment, calling for continued systemic health reinforcements centered on family-based care.
Institutional support
The visit was part of the “Los Datos Cuentan” (Data Matters) campaign, a UNICEF-led effort to visualize the status of childhood health and secure cross-sector commitments. Representatives from the National Health Service (SNS) and hospital leadership highlighted the necessity of expanding the program’s national reach.
Business sector leaders participating in the visit reiterated their support for early childhood initiatives, noting that investments in neonatal health are direct contributors to the nation’s long-term social and economic development.
The KMC is internationally recognized as a gold standard for at-risk newborns, particularly in developing nations, due to its efficacy in improving neonatal survival rates without requiring expensive technology.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
15 April 2026