October 28, 2025, 7:00 PM MDT
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is giving hope to children in the Dominican Republic through the donation of new medical equipment to the Robert Reed Cabral Children’s Hospital in the capital, Santo Domingo.
At the Oct. 21 donation ceremony, Children’s Hospital President Dr. Mabel Elizabeth Jones Luciano said the donation was “historic” and “the first of its kind in the nation.”
“Each of these devices represents an opportunity for recovery for the child, a sigh of relief for the mother, and an opportunity for the family to maintain hope,” she said. “This donation strengthens our mission and reminds us that children deserve the most from all of us.”
The church donated more than 40 pieces of medical equipment to the hospital, including multifunctional beds, ventilators, heart monitors, portable X-ray and ultrasound machines, and other essentials, the church’s Spanish-language newsroom reported.
The donated equipment will improve capacity in areas such as intensive care, pediatric surgery, diagnostic imaging and respiratory support, benefiting an estimated 12,000 children each year.
On the day of the donation, Raquel Albaje, First Lady of the Dominican Republic, met with Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, a General Authority Seventy and Second Counselor in the Caribbean Area Presidency, and other members of the local Church.
The first lady recalled watching church commercials when she was younger and being inspired by the values of service, hope and love of neighbor, according to the church’s Spanish-language newsroom.
“I have always admired the way the church communicates messages that uplift the spirit and promote the common good,” Albaje said.
Bishop Gerard Cosse attended the donation ceremony and spoke about the importance of investing in children.
“Children are God’s kingdom on earth and represent the future generations of all nations,” he said. “I love this country and its people. Being able to improve the quality of health care for children is deeply inspiring to me.”
