In spite of all of the problems suffered by the public health system over the past year, UNICEF has announced that infant mortality has decreased in the Dominican Republic. At a rate of 32 deaths before the age of five for every 1,000 live births, a significant reduction from the 42/1000 reported in 2000 is evident. With these new figures, the Dominican Republic is now within the group of countries that are consistent with the UN plan to reduce infant mortality by two thirds by the year 2015. The Dominican Republic is slightly below the average for Latina America, which is 34/1000. Cuba has the lowest infant mortality rate a 7/1000 in the region and Haiti the highest, estimated to be around 79/1000.