The largest maternity hospital in the Dominican Republic, Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia attends to an average of 100 births a day of which 24 are to Haitians. The hospital has hired a Creole translator to help the mothers, and many arrive on organized birthing trips to receive the free services. 78% of the mothers do not have any identification documents and most have not had previous prenatal checks, as reported in Listin Diario. Two Haitian trainee doctors have been hired to assist the Haitians.
Hospital director Victor Calderon confirmed that yesterday, Tuesday 19 November, of six patients being treated in the intensive care unit, four were Haitians. He said that in 2013, the number of Haitians coming to give births is up 6%, from 18% in the past. He said this is because the hospital eliminated the fees charged due to frequent referrals of difficult cases from public hospitals in the border regions.
He said there are many cases of premature babies who then stay at the hospital for months, at a cost of around RD$300,000 each to the Dominican state. He said there are also other cases of Haitian mothers who leave their babies in the hospital, and later have to be located.
Interviewed by Listin Diario, a Haitian mother, 42-year old Wista Josef said that all her five children had been born at the Maternidad La Altagracia. She came in with high blood pressure for her latest birth and the baby had died.
Calderon added that 56% of the Dominicans that give birth at the hospital do not have identification papers and urged the JCE to start the program requiring all women giving birth their to legalize their status.
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2013/11/19/300267/De-cada-cien-partos-24-son-de-haitianas-en-maternidad