Santo Domingo.– The Dominican government claims to have reduced neonatal mortality by 16% during 2025, as a result of the actions implemented by the National Health Service (SNS) to strengthen care for mothers and their newborns.
According to the
Epidemiological Bulletin of Week 51, issued by the Epidemiology Directorate (DIEPI),
294 fewer neonatal deaths were recorded than in 2024, figures that could improve by the end of the epidemiological year.
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The SNS highlighted that this progress is based on the strengthening of the maternal-infant hospital network, which allowed the year 2026 to begin with births in optimal health conditions in centers such as the "Hospital San Lorenzo de Los Mina" and the "Maternidad Reynaldo Almánzar".
Actions of the NHS
Through the Maternal and Child and Adolescent Directorate, the SNS develops programs aimed at reducing the main causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the country:
prematurity, perinatal asphyxia and sepsis associated with care.
The strategy is based on five pillars:
infrastructure and innovation, continuing education, timely neonatal transfers, prevention of healthcare-associated infections, and strengthening of the Kangaroo Mother Program.
During the current administration, headed by Dr.
Mario Lama,
eight Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) were inaugurated in different provinces of the country. Between January and October 2025, these units offered
7,925 hospitalization services, contributing to the decentralization of specialized neonatal care.
In addition, programs such as
therapeutic hypothermia were strengthened to reduce neurological sequelae from perinatal asphyxia, the prevention of sepsis through unit-dose units in neonatal ICU, and the timely diagnosis of congenital heart defects.
In terms of training, the SNS maintains alliances with the
Ibero-American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN) and non-governmental organizations, ensuring the continuous updating of medical and Nursing staff in neonatal units.
Comprehensive care for newborns
The
Kangaroo Mother Program, implemented in
25 hospitals, benefited
3,461 premature and low-weight babies between January and October 2025. In addition, early detection programs for
retinopathy of prematurity and
hearing loss were expanded, the latter having screened
70,835 children since its implementation in 2022.
The Government assured that it will continue to strengthen these policies to further reduce neonatal mortality and improve the quality of maternal and child care throughout the country.
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