Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Dominica

Dominica is divided into 7 health districts. There are 3 public hospitals in the island namely: Marigot Hospital, Portsmouth Hospital, and the Princess Margaret Hospital. Intensive Care Units are available in the latter 2 hospitals. However, there are a number of specialists and medical practitioners who have private clinics and render medical service in their respective areas.

There have been a lot of diseases that caused serious health problems and even death in the country. The dengue haemorrhagic fever has struck the country and resulted to a significant number of deaths. Aside from that, malaria has also been a serious threat to the country’s healthcare system though it is not anymore evident at present. Aside from these 2 diseases which have been a threat to the Dominicans, other diseases that struck the country are typhoid fever (due to raw food and tap water), asthma, HIV Aids (where most cases are from the adolescent ages), tuberculosis, circulatory system diseases (especially heart problems) and malignant tumors (where majority of the cases are breast tumors).

Children in Dominica aged 0 to 4 years old receive complete routine immunization programs which are available in the country’s hospitals and clinics. These routine vaccines are for influenza, polio, measles, tetanus and chicken pox. At the age of 5 when Dominican children are sent to school, screening for students in the aspects of vision, hearing, general physical health and growth and development are compulsory done to all school entrants. Starting the age of 12 when children are their adolescence stage, health risks involve drug abuse, alcohol use, violence, and HIV Aids.