Health Care of Athletes, National Health Service (SNS), Ministry of Sports and Dominican Olympic Committee (COD) agreed on a cooperation agreement to strengthen the prevention and comprehensive care of those who represent the country in national and international scenarios. The agreement establishes a joint work route that will allow facilitating access of athletes, coaches and accredited members of the sports delegations to the available services in the Public Health Network, in accordance with the needs and level of complexity required.
Free and timely care in prioritized hospitals, including the Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City, the Ney Arias Lora, Darío Contreras, Higüey and Azua trauma hospitals, as well as other centers of the Public Health Services Network, will be coordinated in accordance with the needs of each case. The SNS executive director, Dr. Julio Landrón, explained that the initiative seeks to ensure that athletes, especially those of high competition, can receive comprehensive and multidisciplinary care that allows them to recover properly and safely return to their training and sports commitments.
Landrón recalled that during the recently held Central American and Caribbean Games, more than 256 athletes were attended to for various health situations that arose during the competitions and training. He highlighted that the Health City had specialized equipment and professionals from different areas to respond quickly to the needs of the athletes. Also, the training of sports and health personnel in first aid, initial response to emergencies, prevention of risks and comprehensive care of athletes, as well as the coordination of referral and counter-referral routes within the Public Health Services Network is established.
The Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, highlighted that support for athletes must be maintained beyond the celebration of a competition, considering that those who carry the Dominican flag to international scenarios need adequate conditions to continue their preparation. Cruz valued the articulation between institutions and stated that athletes are “anonymous heroes” who represent the Dominican Republic with pride, and therefore they must have quality, professional and dignified health services when facing any situation that may affect their preparation.
The President of the Dominican Olympic Committee, Garibaldy Bautista, expressed his satisfaction that the Central American and Caribbean Games have left, in addition to the sports results, initiatives aimed at strengthening the well-being of athletes. The key word of this agreement is health care of athletes, as it seeks to provide them with comprehensive and multidisciplinary care so that they can recover properly and safely return to their training and sports commitments.
Credits: deultimominuto.com
