MOU formalizes partnership and commitment to Dominica’s children

Roseau, Dominica/Richmond, VA – On Saturday, July 10^th, World Pediatric Project (WPP) and the government of Dominica signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU formalizes the partnership and commitment between WPP and Dominica and includes an annual contribution from Dominica of EC $83,970 (around $31,000 USD) into WPP programs serving Dominican children.

“We’re excited to strengthen our partnership to help the families of Dominica,” said Lauren McIntosh, World Pediatric Project Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean. “This allows more WPP specialist teams to work side by side with local doctors and medical professionals to expand access to critical pediatric care for all Dominican children.”

For twenty years, WPP has been helping close the gap in access to surgical care for children in the Eastern Caribbean by developing comprehensive, long-term programs and partnerships to meet both short-term and long-term needs. This includes providing advanced care to thousands of children in need each year while also helping to strengthen the capacity of local healthcare systems through health worker training and infrastructure development.

Since 2008, more than 311 children from Dominica have received care through WPP, totaling over EC $30 million (around $11 million USD) in services.

On Friday, July 9^th, 28 Dominican children received direct care during WPP’s first scoliosis diagnostic clinic in Dominica held in partnership with the Ministry of Health and through collaboration with the hospital administration at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital. Led by Dr. Chester Sharps, pediatric orthopaedist at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and medical director of WPP’s Caribbean Scoliosis Program, the team worked alongside pediatricians and orthopedic physician specialists in Dominica to evaluate children and identify those that may require surgical intervention at a later date.