Objective: To promote sustainable development in the Punta Cana region in the Dominican Republic by providing improved primary health care in the community of Veron.

Commitment: In a formal agreement signed December 15, 2005, the PUNTACANA Foundation pledged to provide seed funding and in-kind support to US physicians and Dominican doctors that will provide continuous medical services to a region that is not adequately supported to meet its increasing population and the emerging medical needs. Concurrently, medical students from the Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Virginia will have an opportunity to experience tropical and global medicine through a clinical rotation experience at the clinic. The clinic is one of the first to be co-managed by a not-for-profit foundation - PUNTACANA Foundation, a US Medical College, and the Dominican Government and one of the first of its kind in the Caribbean Region.

Background: The signing culminates a yearlong planning process involving PUNTACANA Foundation, VCOM, SESPAS and other Dominican Health Care leaders. There has been significant investment of time to determine health care needs for Veron. Representatives from all three entities have met leaders and representatives in the Veron community, local schools, current clinic, an AIDs prevention group, emergency services, church leaders, and the Ministry of Health. The planning to date has focused on defining health care needs for the community and the best process for removing the current obstacles to health care. Formal surveys of the community were conducted by both VCOM and the Dominican Ministry of Health.

Update:
May 2005:
Since PUNTACANA Resort and Club and the VCOM commenced operations in the rural clinic of Veron it is remarkable what has transpired. One year ago there was no effective medical coverage for the community of Veron. Today, 55 to 60 patients are treated at the clinic per day. In conjunction with SESPAS, a community wide vaccination program was started. The VCOM students went door to door throughout Veron offering Polio Vaccine. A prenatal clinic was also started, and there are currently 22 expectant mothers that come to the clinic, who had not had any prenatal care before.

February 2006:
Following a needs assessment, it was decided that the clinic in the Veron region will be remodeled to improve the physical conditions of the building, the surrounding yard and the patient waiting area, bringing in medical equipment, supplies, medicines, and upgrading the technological facilities (installing internet, phones, computers, etc.). The plan is to complete all requiered tasks, including having a Dominican doctor hired, and 2 VCOM students come in on rotation every 2 months by March 2006.