During the 2024–2025 biennium, the Dominican Republic achieved a significant reduction in neonatal mortality of 16% compared with 2024, following a set of coordinated strategic interventions carried out under national leadership and with PAHO technical cooperation, focused on strengthening comprehensive care for mothers and newborns, promoting improvements in service quality, organizing care networks, and using cost‑effective health technologies.

A key contribution was support for the introduction of palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for low-birth-weight newborns, procured through the PAHO Regional Revolving Funds. This intervention contributed to reducing complications associated with severe respiratory infections during the neonatal period.

In parallel, under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance and the National Health Service, and with support from PAHO, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund and other local stakeholders, efforts to address maternal mortality through a systemic approach were intensified, integrating continuous quality improvement processes, enhanced surveillance, and the use of strategic information.

Maternal mortality did not change significantly in 2024 compared to 2023. However, national capacities were consolidated through initiatives such as Zero Maternal Deaths, Immediate Post‑Obstetric Event Contraception, Strong Families, adolescent pregnancy prevention, a life‑course approach, comprehensive antenatal care, essential newborn care, the prevention of health care-associated infections, improvements in health information systems, and the implementation of the Perinatal Information System Plus SIP+.

These actions, aligned with the life‑course approach and with the principles of health for all, help to foster favorable conditions for reducing avoidable deaths, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and advancing progress toward achieving national, global and regional goals.

Photo caption: A mother and her child at Los Mina Maternity Hospital during a growth and development consultation, November 2025.

PAHO/Acervo institucional