COUNTRY BACKGROUND
The Dominican Republic comprises the eastern side of the island of Hispaniola, sharing a western border with Haiti. Positioned near a geological fault line, between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the Dominican Republic is predisposed to a variety of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Communicable diseases such as acute diarrhea are responsible for the majority of deaths among children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and along with nutritional deficiencies, are a leading health priority.
GLOBAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AmeriCares Medical Assistances Reaches 150 Health Care Institutions Each Year
AmeriCares has been providing medical aid to the Dominican Republic since 1990 through a partnership with the Dominican Association of the Order of Malta. AmeriCares has delivered more than $216 million of essential medicines and medical supplies during this time, each year reaching 150 health and social service institutions throughout the country. These beneficiaries include regional hospitals and specialty care facilities, primary care clinics, homes for the young and the elderly, and medical brigades reaching out to rural communities and Haitian refugees. According to the WHO, roughly 44% of the Dominican population lives without access to essential medicines, making AmeriCares monthly delivery of medical supplies far-reaching and critical for care.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
Recent Emergency Responses
In addition to ongoing assistance, AmeriCares responds when natural disasters hit the Caribbean island. In November 2007 Tropical Storm Noel caused heavy rains, flooding and mudslides. In response to a call for assistance from the Order of Malta, AmeriCares flew an emergency shipment of vital medicines and supplies valued at more than $2 million. These medicines provided critical aid to people affected by the torrential storms and their aftermath.
In May 2004 AmeriCares responded to a state of emergency due to extensive flooding. The town of Jimani was flattened when flash floods sent rocks, mud and other debris down the mountain in the middle of the night. An AmeriCares emergency team was immediately dispatched for evaluation, followed by an emergency airlift of life-saving relief supplies worth $1 million.
AmeriCares Honored by President of Dominican Republic
In 1997, AmeriCares responded to a severe drought in the Dominican Republic that critically affected the hospitals and clinics we supports That same year, Joaquin Balaguer, then president of the Dominican Republic, honored AmeriCares Founder and Chairman Bob Macauley with the rank of commander in the Heraldic Order of Christopher Columbus.
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