To date (July 2003), our Association comprises a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Secretary and 50 active members. All, voluntary, French, Dominican and various other nationalities chose to put their competences, their ideas and their energy into supporting the Dominican Republic’s poorest services. A great number of our members live in Dominican Republic, in Las Terrenas others work for our Association from France.

Over the past 10 years, the Dominican Republic has made unprecedented great strides in the tourist industry. Whereas the majority of the projects were in the form of enormous “all inclusive” complexes, Las Terrenas experienced a more harmonious development, with an integration of the gentler tourist activity and in collaboration with the local population. This daily coexistence between the foreigners, primarily European, and the "locals" introduced major sanitary and social inequalities.

The right to medical care, perceived as normal in our countries of the north, remains here an extremely expensive privilege.
The increasing number of people who gather around our Association have all the common will to act to mitigate the gaps of the local health care system.

With the extent and the variety of tasks to be undertaken, the Association has had to lay down precise objectives.

The Hospital of Las Terrenas has the role of providing medical care to a population of 17 000 inhabitants. The goodwill is not lacking - doctors and nurses are qualified and willing - but the gaps are, on the other hand, shouting for equipment and drugs.

What has been undertaken
In 2003, the Association undertook the restoration of the hospital of Las Terrenas. Interior and exterior painting and pieces of furniture were undertaken. Electricity, plumbing and the power generating unit were revised and repaired. A new cooker, a refrigerator as well as a washing machine were offered.
The restoration of the ambulance is in hand.
The Town Hall is also helping with the cleaning of the hospital accesses.
A chain of solidarity in the recovery of drugs from France and forwarding to Las Terrenas by arriving tourists was created and allows a permanent flow of drugs. Members of the Association undertake their reception and equity of distribution.
During the same period, the French Embassy in partnership with generous doners of Las Terrenas financed the hospital’s water treatment system.

What is in hand
With the assistance of the hospital Director and Administrator as well as intervening doctors, specialists and pharmacists at the hospital, we drew up precise lists of medical equipment and furniture necessary for the correct operation of each service.
We undertook to collect material reformed in France, due to double use or closing of medical structures. Thanks to associations, doctors or persons in charge of hospitals, the collection is already quite advanced. The material is stored in Lyon and will be forwarded to the Dominican Republic in the next month.

What remains to be done
Doctors, nurses, midwives, members of our Association and a Spanish organization in the country conducting a "health system reinforcement programme" will ensure the arrival of the material and the staff training of the hospital. A great priority will be given to the emergency service with the creation of an intensive care unit, non-existent to date.
The country dispensary of Los Puentes, located at the crossroads of 5 isolated villages, a few kilometres from Las Terrenas requested our assistance for medical equipment, furniture and drugs. This structure, which offers its services to approximately 2000 people, functions with a nurse-assisted, without material and drugs

Assistance with the creation of a fire station: in collaboration with the Municipality of Las Terrenas and thanks to the Association SPAI (Sapeurs Pompiers Actions Internationales). Today, there is no means of fire fighting and any assistance in the event of accident. The Association wishes to equip the barracks under construction with a truck of firemen and thanks to an Association of French voluntary firemen, to ensure the training of the voluntary firemen of Las Terrenas, like their formation with the reanimation and the first gestures of help.

Development of the sports activities and installation, with the municipality, of a sports ground for a very young Dominican population.

Our Association gathers, to date, members of different nationalities and varied competences.
A French industrialist and his wife, with multiple relations and very integrated into the hospital environment.
Many doctors, nurses, midwives... residents in France and others, on the spot, in the Dominican Republic.
The hospital Director, Administrator, Pharmacist as well as part of the personnel .
A Dominican lawyer.
And technicians, electricians... all very integrated in the project and ready to offer time for the installation of the material and staff training.

Andre and Sylviane BOUMERICHE, French industrialist, residents intermittent but permanently fond of Las Terrenas and its population are both at the origin of the project and actively support us.
Various companies (Caballo Tours, Atlantique Sud, La Salsa, Terrenas en Plata ...) and individuals of Las Terrenas answer present and support us at the time of collections of gifts and during our local demonstrations and festivities for the profit of the Association.
Delegation of the European Commission in the Dominican Republic
PROSISA: Spanish Program of European Union of Reinforcement of the Health System in the Dominican Republic
Delegation of the Red Cross of the 7° district of Paris
INICICONT: Dominican National Institute of Investigation of Infectious Diseases
Humatem (Law Association 1901): bank of material and medical equipment for the humanitarian aid on Internet
SPAI: Firemen International Actions
The Town Hall of Las Terrenas
Foundation "French Hospital" with humane goal, Santo Domingo, capital of the Dominican Republic