Rafey,
Dominican Republic
El Buen Pastor
Dr. Johny Belarme acted on faith when he opened a medical clinic in Rafey, Dominican Republic, in 2014, with precious few resources.
Rafey, a suburb of Santiago, is home to a significant population of impoverished Haitian immigrants. Teen pregnancy, HIV and neighborhood violence are common.
The Luke Society partnered with Belarme in July 2016. A small capital investment allowed his ministry to take off with a restocked pharmacy, a staff of four and patient volume that now approaches 200 per month. He also conducts workshops on sexuality from a Biblical perspective to stem the tide of teen pregnancy and HIV.
The Luke Society provided resources to help Belarme purchase and renovate a property into his own permanent clinic home. The facility opened in 2023.
Belarme has trained community health workers in a number of villages. The health workers are connected to churches, which have medical supplies for the workers to use.
In addition to his medical work, Belarme serves as the co-pastor of his church, preaching three to four times a month.
Dr. Johny Belarme
About the ministry:
Name: El Buen Pastor
Location: Rafey, Dominican Republic
Director: Dr. Johny Belarme
Partnership: 2017-present
Staff: 7
Our mission:
“We are a ministry of community development that provides comprehensive health care to patients in three dimensions — body, mind and Spirit — through the development of social management programs with families, communities and Christian vocation.”
Why I love being a director:
“What I like most about being a director is to serve people with the feeling and vocation of a true, genuine servant — to have the opportunity to preach and evangelize from my work place to those who do not know Christ.”
About Dominican Republic:
Population: 10.6 million
Size: 48,670 sq. km, or about twice the size of New Hampshire.
Capital: Santo Domingo
Borders: Haiti to the west; North Atlantic Ocean to the north; Caribbean Sea to the south.
Religious groups: Catholic, 44.3; Protestant-evangelical, 20.9%
Primary language: Spanish
Literacy (age 15+): 93.8%
Physician density: 1.5 doctors per 1,000 people.
Population below international poverty line: 21.0%
Life expectancy: 72.3 years
Infant mortality rate: 21.7 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Major exports: Gold, silver, cocoa, sugar, coffee, tobacco, meats.
Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal rainfall variation.
Terrain: Rugged highland and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys.
