Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Society of Infectious Diseases has urged the Ministry of Public Health to take immediate action following the detection of a cholera outbreak in Haiti. The organization called for reinforced epidemiological and environmental surveillance at border crossings and other high-risk areas to prevent the spread of the disease into Dominican territory.

The Society warned that the risk of cholera resurgence in the Dominican Republic has risen sharply due to the ongoing migration of Haitians, increased mobility in border regions, and current weather conditions marked by heavy rains and low water levels — factors that can facilitate the transmission of Vibrio cholerae through contaminated water.

Health authorities are advised to strengthen early detection, community education, and access to safe water, while ensuring rapid response to suspected cases. The organization reaffirmed its readiness to support national efforts through technical training, protocol updates, and public awareness initiatives in line with WHO and PAHO guidelines.

According to recent data, Haiti reported 112 suspected cholera cases in early October, including 10 confirmed, 43 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths — mostly in the Ouest department, home to Port-au-Prince. So far in 2025, the country has recorded 2,797 suspected cases, 114 confirmed infections, 2,023 hospitalizations, and 47 deaths, underscoring ongoing community transmission and resurgence in densely populated areas.

Guyana is free of African swine fever (ASF) based on latest tests conducted this year, even as neighbouring Suriname is collecting samples from pigs to send overseas for testing, officials said. Agriculture minister Zulfikar Mustapha told Demerara Waves Online News that the tests show that Guyana us free of the disease. He said the data ...

Santo Domingo.- The Ministry of Public Health reported 126 maternal deaths through early October, representing a 10% reduction compared to the same period last year.

According to the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave), this figure reflects 14 fewer maternal deaths than in 2024, when 140 deaths were reported.

Although the trend is positive, the report notes that of the 126 maternal deaths, two occurred in epidemiological week (EW) 40, from September 28 to October 4, which remains a high figure and highlights challenges in equity in access to maternal health services, especially in rural and vulnerable areas of the country.

These results are below the five reported in the 2024 SE-40, indicating better weekly performance.

However, the recent section of the SE-37–40 also saw an improvement, with 14 deaths in 2025 compared to 18 in 2024, reinforcing a downward trend in the short term.

Improving maternal care: factors explaining the reduction

According to the Epidemiology Directorate’s bulletin, this decrease could be related to several key actions within the health system, such as increased prenatal care coverage, strengthening obstetric emergency care, ongoing training of health personnel, and increased availability of essential medical supplies.

These measures aim to significantly improve the quality and timeliness of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, critical periods for maternal health.

Maternal deaths by nationality

The analysis by nationality reveals that 70 deaths among Dominican women were recorded as of October 4, compared to 75 in 2024, equivalent to a reduction of five cases. Among Haitian women, 56 cases were reported in 2025 and 65 in 2024.

These data highlight the need for specific actions for migrant populations, who often face additional barriers to accessing timely, quality medical care.

The areas with the lowest maternal death rates are Santo Domingo, San Cristobal, and San Pedro de Macorís. These are followed by the provinces of Valverde, Azua, and Duarte/Monte Cristi.

While some provinces, such as La Vega, La Altagracia, Samaná, and the National District, recorded increases.

This mix of decreases and increases suggests sustained improvements in large urban areas but risk hotspots in provinces with pronounced relative increases, which warrant case audits (delays, referrals, blood/uterotonic availability, management of sepsis and hypertensive disorders) and postpartum reinforcement.

What is maternal mortality, and why is it a key public health indicator?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal death is defined as the death of a woman during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days after the termination of pregnancy, due to causes related to the pregnancy, excluding accidental or incidental causes.

The WHO classifies maternal deaths into two types: direct, those caused by obstetric complications such as hemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis, among others, and indirect, related to pre-existing or acquired diseases that worsen during pregnancy, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), malaria, or heart disease.

Reducing maternal mortality at the regional and global levels

Globally, between 2000 and 2023, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) decreased by approximately 40%, from 328 to 197 deaths per 100,000 live births.

In the Americas, maternal mortality decreased by 19% between 2020 and 2023, representing nearly five fewer deaths per day across the region.

The reduction in the number of maternal deaths in the Dominican Republic is an encouraging sign, but it is not enough.

This is necessary to continue providing primary care, improve the quality of prenatal care, and expand access to health services in remote communities.

Maternal mortality is more than just a number: it is an essential indicator of the state of the health system, equity in health care, and women’s reproductive rights.

Hundreds of thousands of residents across Guyana’s coastland are inching closer to receiving 100 percent treated water and interior regions are getting increased access to potable well water, top officials said Saturday at the commissioning of a GY$1.3 billion water treatment plant at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown. “By the end of next year, we expect ...

The initiative, a collaboration between the National Health Service (SNS) and the First Lady’s Office, provides free diagnostic and prevention services across the country. These services are delivered through 13 prioritized hospitals and 512 mobile health campaigns, bringing essential medical care directly to underserved communities.

During the fourth-anniversary event, First Lady Raquel Arbaje reiterated her commitment to the program’s expansion, stating that ChequéateRD “was born of that promise: to bring opportunities for life where they are most needed.”

Dr. Mario Lama, Director of the SNS, highlighted the program’s impact on reducing cancer mortality: “Every screening represents a life that can be saved. Early detection is our best defense against cancer.” Dr. Lama also emphasized that mammography can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is palpable, making early diagnosis the true life-saving tool.

To date, the program has screened 89,153 women and 34,603 men. Of the patients screened, 354 have been diagnosed with cancer via biopsy, with 276 currently undergoing treatment, underscoring the vital role of the program in timely intervention.

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Santo Domingo.- The National Council for HIV and AIDS (CONAVIHSIDA) announced that an estimated 87,000 people are currently living with HIV in the Dominican Republic. Of this number, 79,810 have been diagnosed, 56,503 are receiving antiretroviral treatment, and 49,517 have achieved a suppressed or undetectable viral load.

The institution emphasized that individuals with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus, underscoring the importance of protecting their fundamental rights, including access to work, healthcare, and education without discrimination.

According to national data, the country achieved a 13% reduction in new HIV infections and a 59% drop in AIDS-related deaths by 2024. CONAVIHSIDA highlighted that these improvements reflect the success of national prevention, treatment, and awareness policies implemented as part of the ongoing HIV response strategy.

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