The Dominican Republic was one of four countries honored for achievements in reducing maternal mortality, during an April 24 event on Capitol Hill. Minister of Health Bautista Rojas Gómez accepted the honors at the special event, which was organized by USAID and attended by several U.S. senators and representatives.

Earlier the same day, Dr. Rojas met with Dr. Mirta Roses Periago, Director of the Pan American Health Organization, at PAHO headquarters to discuss public health concerns and his country’s technical cooperation priorities, as well as preparations for the upcoming Health Sector Meeting for Central America and the Dominican Republic (RESSCAD), set for July 5 and 6, 2012, in Santo Domingo. Drs. Roses and Rojas also discussed joint health efforts between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in areas including epidemiological surveillance, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, among others.

Links:

• Ministry of Health of the Dominican Republic: www.salud.gob.do
• PAHO/Dominican Republic: http://new.paho.org/dor/
• For more information on the USAID event on Capitol Hill see: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/pdf/maternalsurvivalinvite.pdf