SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús, Inc. and Direct Relief celebrated the inauguration of a new medical logistics center in the Dominican Republic on Saturday, July 26.
Divino Niño Solidarity Collection Center, located in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, will optimize the distribution of medicines, medical equipment, and supplies for vulnerable communities throughout the region. With efficient access to both rural and urban communities, the center will increase medical capacity and transport, reducing the hurdles that prevent access to treatment.
From this space, donations of medicines, medical equipment, emergency kits, consumable materials and other essential supplies will be channeled to impact thousands of people through institutions such as the National Health Service in the North Cibao region, religious communities, hospices, and charitable programs.
Three stories of medical infrastructure include specialized areas for storing medicines at precise temperatures, rooms outfitted for cold-chain storage and staging, administrative offices, and logistics spaces designed to optimize the reception, organization, and distribution of donations.
The construction of the center took approximately one year and was made possible thanks to the collaboration of multiple funding sources, including $540,000 in financial support from Direct Relief.
The inauguration marks an important milestone in the collaboration between Direct Relief and Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús, an alliance that has remained solid for more than 12 years.
“The inauguration of this center not only represents a modern infrastructure, but also a concrete expression of the commitment we share with the Divino Niño Jesús Foundation to strengthen access to health and essential services in the region,” said Erick Molina, regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Direct Relief. “For more than a decade we have walked together, and today we celebrate a fulfilled goal that will have a transformative impact on thousands of lives.”
Direct Relief’s mission is to improve the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, working in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 80 countries around the world. A fundamental component of this mission is strengthening community-based organizations like Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús.
These organizations play a vital role in increasing health locally and worldwide: They intimately know the needs of their communities, have the trust of the local population, and remain present when crises occur. Direct Relief recognizes that true lasting change arises from the communities themselves, which is why it invests in local capacity development and building strategic alliances that generate sustainable long-term impact.
“For 16 years, our foundation has been a bridge between international generosity and local needs,” said Father Eduardo Núñez, president of Fundación Solidaria del Divino Niño Jesús. “This center represents great progress in our mission. We will no longer have to face the high operational costs of distant facilities. Now we have our own space, modern and strategically located, that will allow us to better serve thousands of people and strengthen our work as intermediaries for Direct Relief with other institutions in the country.”
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Metropolitan Archbishop, priests, religious sisters, institution directors, beneficiaries, health authorities, Direct Relief representatives, the foundation team, and special guests. The opening of the center symbolizes the continued commitment to the shared humanitarian values of both organizations.
