SANTO DOMINGO. - The Public Health Ministry and the University of Miami met today to begin implementing a project to improve the health in Dominican Republic’s fishing zones.

The head of Miami Hospital’s medicine department , the Dominican Héctor Jiménez said the university has conducted research on sexualy-transmitted diseases such as HIV-AIDS, and support for the development of fishing in other countries, and seeks to design a similar project in this country.

The project includes a field study to determine the needs in these zones and possible solutions to the deficiencies found, to contribute equipment to the fishermen, to create core leaders and improve health in these zones, said the Miami University’s representatives.

They said the study will begin in Barahona (southwest), La Romana (east) and Samaná (northeast), although they’ve already visited the zones in San Pedro (east) to observe the situation there.

According to the research Dominican Republic’s HIV AIDS infection rate has fallen considerably, though a minimum percentage still remains. They said among their first plans are to attain links with the communities to identify the leaders, lower the disease levels and improve their economy. The Public Health Ministry’s representatives said they’ll provide follow-up to this project, to work altogether and determine the department that’ll coordinate with the others in that department.

Taking part in the gathering in addition to Jiménez, who heads this project for the Dominican Republic, were Public Health vice minister Héctor Otero and Miami University  representatives Michael Kalber and Edward Trapido, and Health managers of that Florida city.

SOURCE: listin.com.do