Several minibuses from Haiti arrive 2 or 3 times per week to drop off 9 or 10 pregnant women at the Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia Maternity Hospital in Santo Domingo, the country's leading maternity hospital. Hoy says that the regular nature of the drop-offs indicate this is part of an organized illicit business operation. The newspaper quotes Hospital director Dr. Juan Cid Troncoso as saying that the Haitian women usually arrive from 9:30 to 10am, in a delicate state of health, often suffering from anemia. He said that these mothers place the center in a difficult position because they are undernourished, suffering from infections and bleeding. He said that many times both mother and child have to be admitted to the intensive care units for up to 20 days at a very high cost to the hospital. For example, he said that the meds for premature babies with respiratory difficulties costs between RD$15,000 and RD$20,000 each.
Cid Troncoso also believes that national epidemiological statistics should classify mothers by nationality when giving birth. He said that in 2009, of 29 maternal deaths at the La Altagracia hospital, 9 were mothers who arrived from Haiti in a poor state of health. He said that of the 8 beds in the facility, 6 are usually used for Haitians coming to give birth. He said that almost none of the women speak Spanish, which creates additional problems. The women then ask the hospital for financial assistance to return to Haiti, and in some cases they request to continue hospitalized for a longer period, said Cid Troncoso.

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