CAC joins efforts to stop COVID-19 advance

The Central Sugar Consortium (CAC) joins efforts being made by different sections of society in the Dominican Republic to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country through various initiatives that contributes to the well-being of its communities.

The company has started a radio broadcast to its communities with information on hygiene and prevention guidelines in support of the measures of the Ministry of Public Health and the World Health Organization.  In addition, recognizing that many are unemployed at the moment, the CAC contributed 100,000 pesos to purchase food for extremely vulnerable families in Las Salinas and Los Blocks. 

"This is the moment that our country and the world face the challenge of an unprecedented pandemic and aware of the needs we face, the great CAC family has wanted to unite in support," said Esteban Marine, Coordinator of Community Relations at CAC, who was accompanied by Gregory Méndez, assistant to External Communication.

CAC, through its social arm Fundación Central Barahona (FCB), also provided an important donation of medical supplies to the Jaime Sánchez Hospital, the Provincial Health Directorate, the Fifth Infantry Brigade of the Army of the Dominican Republic and the Civil Defense of Barahona, entities that work hard to mitigate the virus among the inhabitants of the region.  The company donated 10,500 N95 and surgical masks, 42,000 pairs of gloves, 450 disposable medical protective suits, 100 gallons of disinfectant gel, 50 gallons of chlorine.

Motivated by the emphasis placed by the WHO placed on COVID-19 testing and, faced with significant limitations in the region`s health system and its testing capacity, CAC, together with FCB, formed a strategic alliance between the Regional Office of Public Health and a private Laboratory (ISO:9001 certified) in the distant province of Azua to streamline the testing process and make it more agile and effective. To accomplish this, FCB rented two trucks and hired drivers to move samples and bio-analysts from the Azua lab to the patients. In addition, for better coordination, data gathering/analysis, and adherence to safety protocols, FCB hired a bio-analyst and a health technician and placed them at the disposal of the Regional Health Department. These efforts increased the daily testing capacity fivefold at no cost to the patients.

The donation and alliance-kickoff ceremony was attended by the Governor of the Province, Mr. Carlos Manuel Florián, who also chairs the Provincial Committee for Prevention, Mitigation and Response of Barahona (CPMR) as well as the outgoing mayor of Barahona, Mr. Noel Suberví, incoming mayor-elect Mr. Milton Fernández, as well as other personalities from the region and some of the CAC's top executives.

“We know that these are complex times for our country.  It is time to join forces, without political parties, all focused on the population.  We call for more companies to join and, as a large family, to develop more actions,” said Julio Fernández, superintendent of Communications of the CAC.  Ms. Karla Rojas, FCB Director, stated that “It is time to show solidarity and we are honored to be able to be of support. Together, we will be able to face this health crisis.” 

The Provincial Director of Health, Dr. Amelia Figuereo Féliz, and Mrs. Rosa Ariza Velázquez, Regional Director of the Enriquillo Regional Service expressed their appreciation to the company for the provision of medical materials and vehicles, as did Wilson Castillo González, commander of the V Infantry Brigade of the RD Army and Augusto Moreta, Regional Director of Civil Defense.