La Vega.– Around 1,900 people from this province benefited from free medical services during the Amistad 2026 health cooperation mission, carried out by the Ministry of Public Health in coordination with the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
During the day, hundreds of residents from different communities received consultations in general and family medicine, dentistry, ophthalmology, pediatrics, psychology, and dermatology, as well as guidance on disease prevention and health promotion.
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was led by the Minister of Public Health, Víctor Atallah; the United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Leah Campos; the Governor of La Vega, Luisa Jiménez; Brigadier General of the Southern Command, Tara Nolan; the Provincial Director of Health, Mairení Pérez; and the Director of the Dr. Luis Morillo King Regional University Hospital, Haidé Paulino, along with civil and military authorities from both countries.
Bilateral cooperation highlighted
Minister Víctor Atallah reaffirmed the Dominican Government’s commitment to continue promoting these types of initiatives, considering that they strengthen both medical care and the relations between the Dominican Republic and the United States.
“We will always be willing and open for these missions to continue and for our doctors who are here to understand that bringing health to people is a commitment,” expressed Atallah.
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For her part, Ambassador Leah Campos highlighted that Amistad 2026 represents a concrete example of the cooperation between both nations by combining direct assistance to communities with the strengthening of the medical teams’ capabilities.
“Over the past two weeks, we have witnessed another chapter of the deep friendship between the United States and the Dominican Republic. A friendship based on a shared commitment to the well-being of our peoples. It is important to create an effective alliance before a crisis and not during one,” he stated.
While Brigadier General Tara Nolan pointed out that the initiative not only allowed for providing medical assistance to thousands of people, but also strengthened the ties of cooperation between both countries.
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“Today is not simply the end of a two-week mission. It is one more step in the solid cooperative relationship between the United States and the Dominican Republic. The greatest success of Amistad is not the number of patients treated; it is the trust we build together,” he stated.
Knowledge exchange
The mission took place from August 3 to 14, 2026 as part of a cooperation program led by the United States Air Forces Southern Command (AFSOUTH), within the framework of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) initiatives.
During that period, health professionals from the Dominican Republic and the United States worked together at the Dr. Luis Morillo King Regional University Hospital and the Dr. Almida García Municipal Hospital, where they provided direct patient care, in addition to conducting training sessions and exchanging clinical experiences.
The authorities highlighted that these actions contribute to strengthening the capabilities of healthcare personnel and the health systems of both countries through the adoption of best practices and preparation to respond to future emergencies.
Authorities present
The closing ceremony also featured the participation of the mayor of La Vega, Amparo Custodio; the Minister of Defense, Carlos Onofre; the Vice Minister of Risk Management and Disaster Response, Gina Estrella; the Vice Minister of Wellness and Healthy Longevity, Andelys de la Rosa; the Vice Minister of Quality Assurance, José Antonio Matos; the Administrative-Financial Director Ney Eugenio Deschamps, as well as civil and military representatives from the Dominican Republic and the United States.
