Clínica de Familia La Romana (Clínica de Familia)
Founded in 1999 by Dr. Stephen W. Nichols, a pioneer in providing medical care to children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their families, Clínica de Familia la Romana is a Dominican non-profit organization which provides comprehensive health services to vulnerable populations in and around La Romana, Dominican Republic. It operates in collaboration with the Dominican Ministry of Public Health.
General Information
- Legal Name: Clínica de Familia La Romana
- Acronym: Clínica de Familia
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- RNC/Tax ID No: 430-107-565
- Geographic Areas: El Seibo, Hato Mayor, La Altagracia, La Romana
- Theme Areas: Children and Youth, Education, Gender, Health
- Quantity and Type of Beneficiaries:
1600 Patients with HIV/SIDA
1000 Sex Workers
2000 Adolescents in MAMI
10,000 Clinical Services Patients
The Team
Mina Halpern, Executive Director
Leonel Lerebours, Sub-Director and Director of Investigations
Giselina Pierret, Medical Director
Lara Trifol, Programs Director
Ana Zapata, Administrator and RRHH
Bernardo Rosario, Comptroller
Luz Messina, Director MAMI
Board Members:
Ana Jiménez-Bautista, Member
Hilda Peguero, Member
Cecilio de la Rosa, Member
Mildred Ferry, Member
Aida Vanderhorst, Member
Contact Information
- Telephone: (809) 813-2934
- Email: info@clinicadefamilia.org.do
- Address:
Calle Gregorio Luperón, Esq. Calle Gastón Fernando Deligne No. 168, La Aviación, La Romana, Dominican Republic
- Website: http://www.clinicadefamilia.org.do/
- Social Networks: Facebook
Contact Person
- Name: María Consuelo Pérez
- Position: Public Relations Manager
- Telephone: (809) 813-2934 ex. 106
- Email: info@clinicadefamilia.org.do
Operation
- Type of Organization: Non-Profit Organization
- International Affiliations:
- Years of Operation: Since 1999
- Number of Employees: 89
- Number of Members: N/A
- Number of Volunteers:
Adolescent Peer Education Team: 40; International Volunteers: 5-10
- Sources of Funding:
1) Revenues from provision of general clinical services;
2) International Grants from entities including USAID, CONAVIHSIDA, Planned Parenthood of Great Northwest, Rotary Club, Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, Columbia University, Global Fund, and anonymous private donors; and
3) Premio Brugal 2013.
- Products/Services:
1) Comprehensive care for HIV;
2) Summer camp for children with HIV;
3) The Women’s Program;
4) Maternal Child Health Annex or Módulo Anexo Materno Infantil (MAMI);
5) Clinical Services for the Community;
6. Student and Volunteer Program; and
7. Sale of shirts, hats and bags with the institution’s logo.
- Total Income: US$1,376,505 (2014)
- Total Expenses: US$1,281,311 (2014)
Mission/Vision
Mission: To improve the health of families in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, including vulnerable people, through comprehensive health services, education and research.
Vision: To have a community where all families have access to health services in order to enjoy a good quality of life.
Values: We are committed to working with dedication, respect, confidentiality, empathy and love.
Primary Programs and Projects
Comprehensive Care for HIV. Clinica de Familia La Romana uses a family-centered approach to provide free medical care, antiretroviral treatment, and preventative services for children and adults with HIV. In addition to these services, the clinic offers psycho-social support through its psychology, counseling, social services and community outreach departments.
Camp for Children with HIV. Clinica de Familia La Romana started Camp Home and Joy for kids with HIV in 2004. The campers are children and adolescents that come from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Eastern Dominican Republic. Camp Hope and Joy offers the campers an opportunity to have fun during a one-week camp, by engaging in activities that boost their confidence and self-esteem. The camp provides a safe environment where children with HIV can receive support, love, affection, and respect.
The Women’s Program. The Women’s Program, or Programa de la Mujer, provides services for sex workers in the Eastern Dominican Republic. Sex workers travel to Clinica de Familia La Romana for monthly exams. In addition to medical services provided at the clinic, these vulnerable clients receive education and counseling on preventing sexually transmitted infections through educational sessions given at the clinic and at the brothels where they work. This program has been extremely successful at lowering HIV prevalence in La Romana’s sex worker population.
The Maternal Child Health Annex. The Maternal Child Health Annex, or Módulo Anexo Materno Infantil (MAMI), houses the adolescent unit of La Romana’s provincial public hospital, and is supported directly by Clinica de Familia La Romana. MAMI offers specialized services for adolescents, including prenatal care, family planning, gynecology, pediatrics, young men’s clinic, and comprehensive sex education programs in schools and the community.
Clinical Services for the Community. Clinica de Familia La Romana offers high quality medical services throughout the community. These services include general medical care, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, cardiology, diabetes care, family planning, psychology and counseling. Additionally, the clinic offers ultrasounds and laboratory testing. Prices are affordable and staff are highly trained to offer these services to the community.
Student and Volunteer Program. The Student and Volunteer Program is a collaborative program with Columbia University for health sciences students. Since 2002, this program has received about 300 international and Dominican students who have gained numerous professional skills as they complete clinical rotations and public health projects. Research is an important aspect of the clinic’s work, and has helped improve the clinic’s services as well as produced relevant information at the local, national and global level. Our research has included HIV prevalence studies among pregnant women and a male circumcision study intended to reduce HIV transmission rates.
