French ambassador in the Dominican Republic, Jose Gomez, says that France is interested in collaborating for the construction of hospitals in Haiti to reduce the number of birthing tourism to the Dominican Republic, but the government of Haiti has not been interested in that happening.
“Yes, we are very interested in helping, with the support of the European Union, to create health centers so that the Haitian women who are about to give birth do not have the cross the border and be admitted to Dominican hospitals,” he told Diario Libre.
Gomez said the problem is that those centers have to be built on Haitian territory and “the Haitian government has to express interest in the matter and up to now they have not conveyed their support for such an initiative. Then it is very difficult to do this project, but on the other hand, we are willing as French and Europeans to develop those health centers, but we need the support and interest of the Haitian authorities.” he said.
He said he understands how burdensome it is for the poor border towns to receive all the Haitian citizens that cross to give birth.
“I understand that the building, equipping and staffing health centers in Haiti can be an effective strategy to serve Haitian citizens, but the Haitian government has to help. That is out of our hands.
He said French Guiana had a similar problem, when many women from Surinam crossed and a hospital was built in Surinam so that the women did not have to cross the border.
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Diario Libre
10 July 2018
