La Vega.- The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the United States Southern Command, announced the execution of the Amistad 2026 health security cooperation mission in this province, an initiative that seeks to promote regional stability through joint clinical training and direct patient care.
The announcement was led by Dr. Víctor Atallah, Minister of Health, and Mairení Pérez, director of the Provincial Health Directorate of La Vega. On behalf of the Southern Air Forces of the United States Southern Command, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Davison participated, with the support of Sergeant Major Abraham Rojas as translator, in addition to representatives from the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic.
Atallah highlighted that this mission strengthens the cooperation between both countries and will allow for the expansion of the healthcare personnel’s capabilities. “During these two weeks that they will be here, we will receive not only the help to assist thousands of people, thousands of families, but also training and a closer relationship between the two countries,” he expressed.
Lieutenant Colonel Donald Davison highlighted that the mission will allow the exchange of experiences. “Over the next two weeks, Dominican and American health professionals will work side by side, sharing knowledge, exchanging best practices, and learning from each other, while providing care to the local community,” he expressed.
We recommend reading: Public Health provides online consultation to verify authorized health facilities
More Read
The mission takes place from August 3 to 14 of the current year, 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) mission, aimed at strengthening operational medical readiness, fostering the exchange of clinical experiences, and contributing to the strengthening of health systems in the countries of the region.
Throughout the day, U.S. military medical personnel work alongside health professionals in patient care and in training and technical exchange activities, promoting the strengthening of capabilities for the benefit of both institutions.
The services will be offered free of charge at the Luis Morillo King Regional University Hospital and the Dra. Almida García Municipal Hospital, in La Vega, from 8:00 in the morning to 12 noon and from 1:30 in the afternoon to 3 in the afternoon.
More Read
The population will be able to access general medicine, dentistry, and ophthalmology consultations, in addition to receiving health guidance. Care will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the daily capacity established by the medical teams. In this edition of the mission, no surgical procedures will be performed.
The director of the Luis Morillo King Regional University Hospital, Haidé Paulino, assessed the impact that the event will have on the population of La Vega and nearby areas. “Every consultation, every evaluation, and every patient treated represents an opportunity to improve lives,” she expressed.
The 2026 Amistad edition in the Dominican Republic corresponds to the second phase of the program projected for 2026, continuing the work carried out in Paraguay last June.
Present at the activity were Luisa Jiménez, civil governor of La Vega; Amparo Custodio, mayor of the municipality; the vice ministers Gina Estrella, of Risk Management and Disaster Attention; Eladio Pérez, Collective Health; Yudelka Batista, of Strengthening and Development, and, likewise, Ney Eugenio Deschamps, administrative-financial director.
