El Buen Pastor
Rafey, Dominican Republic
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 is active in the church and does preaching on occasion.
Name: El Buen Pastor
Location: Rafey, Dominican Republic
Director: Dr. Johny Belarme
Partnership: 2017-present
Staff: 7
About the ministry
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.
