PSI

Despite a high per capita income relative to most of the developing world, the Dominican Republic suffers from high income disparities and poverty rates, and poor health and education outcomes. The DR also has among the highest rates of infidelity and exportation of sex work.

PSI/Dominican Republic is based in the country’s capital, Santo Domingo. Its program interventions are executed at both the national and community levels. PSI/Dominican Republic employs a staff of 17 local staff and 1 international staff.

Health Areas

Child Survival, Diarrheal Disease, HIV

Health Impact

PSI/Dominican Republic estimates that in 2010, its products and services helped avert:

• 5,499 HIV & TB DALYs1
• 4,350 Reproductive Health DALYs
• 7 Child Survival DALYs
1. 1. Source: The DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) is a widely-used, credible metric that was first developed by the World Bank and is now routinely relied upon in the public health community.

Health Interventions

• Male Condom
• PUR

Improving Health in Latin America & Caribbean

PSI/Dominican Republic has been an affiliate platform of Population Services International since 2003. (Technical assistance from PSI to the DR health sector began in 1998). With programs on HIV/AIDS, and child survival, PSI/Dominican Republic promotes products, services and healthy behaviors that enable low-income and vulnerable people to lead healthier lives.

Some of the products marketed and sold by the platform include:

• Panté Condoms
• PuR Safe Water Treatment (sachets)

Products and services are sold at subsidized prices rather than given away in order to motivate commercial sector involvement. Since its inception, PSI/Dominican Republic focused on HIV/AIDS and STI prevention among youth, immigrant communities (called bateys) and commercial sex workers & their clients. In 2006, child survival programs covering safe water were added.

Currently, PSI/Dominican Republic is the only distributor of the household safe water product PUR Purifier of Water, developed by Procter & Gamble. PSI/DR is also the only distributor to offers products with instructions and educational material in Spanish and Creole. The platform has become an important focal point in Latin America and the Caribbean for the distribution of safe water products. The platform has a fully stocked warehouse located in Panama and is ready to respond to any emergency situations. PUR products can be shipped anywhere in Latin America and Caribbean region within 48 hours. More than 2 million Sachets distributed (Nov 2007) during the wake of tropical storms Noel and Olga in coordination with local government institutions, USAID, World Vision, Peace Corps, and local community based organizations.

Target Populations

Commercial sex workers (CSWs) and their clients; Haitian migrant workers and batey residents; sexually active young adults; adolescents aged 10-14 years (HIV/AIDS); and children under five, rural communities (safe water).

Latest News

• Pasmo lanza sitio web sobre VIH/ PASMO launches a website on HIV
  April 13, 2012
• Addressing the Evolving Needs of Haiti's Women and Children Two Years after the Earthquake
  January 30, 2012
• PSI/Mexico and partner Programa Compañeros launch REDUMEX, the Mexican Harm Reduction Network
  August 2, 2011
• PSI Responds to the Cholera Outbreak in Haiti
  November 1, 2010
• Event: Working Toward Reducing Maternal Mortality and Increasing Access to Reproductive Health
  October 29, 2010
• PSI/Mexico Encourages Healthy Lifestyle among Mexican Youth
  October 20, 2010
• El Salvador: Transvestites get help to fight AIDS
  August 18, 2010
• PSI Research & Metrics Cited in UNAIDS AIDS Epidemic Update
  May 19, 2010
• PSI in Conde Nast Traveler Blog - Five & Alive on the Ground in Haiti
  March 25, 2010
• National Geographic Kids Magazine features PSI
  February 23, 2010