Mountain town demands opening of hospital built months ago

Baitoa, Dominican Republic. – Community and social organizations, and students of the mountainous town on Wednesday staged a protest to demand the opening of the hospital inaugurated in May, which despite being fully equipped, the Public Health Ministry has yet to make it operational.

Dozens of people gathered in front of the Baitoa Hospital, in Santiago province, to demand its opening, complaining that residents have to travel to Sabana Iglesia or Santiago for medical services.

"We ask the Health Ministry to put the hospital into operation, because people have to travel elsewhere to get medical care," the protesters said, quoted by Hilarion Isalguéz, of elnuevodiario.com.do.

The community leaders affirm that the authorities have yet to open the hospital on lack of funds to designate medical and administrative staff.

They said that so far only have a rural clinic, but that is insufficient for the population there, and also the services that offer the new health center will be broader.

They warned the authorities to open the health facility, or they’ll resort to other actions in the immediate future.