Dominican Republic
PROLOG: The Progressive Logistics Project

PROLOG is part of a USAID/Santo Domingo initiative to develop a comprehensive reconstruction (RECON) program in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane George. On September 22, 1998, Hurricane George devastated the Dominican Republic, causing significant infrastructure and agricultural damage in 14 provinces and the National District, and seriously worsening the health of already vulnerable populations living both inside and outside its destructive path. It practically wiped out the availability of potable water and sanitation facilities in many rural communities and poor urban centers. Water and food contamination resulted in increased rates of diarrhea, especially among high-risk groups such as children and the elderly. Subsequent crowded and unhealthy conditions in improvised shelters worsened the situation. The combined effects of these factors led to a significant increase in the health risks.

USAID's involvement in the disaster relief and reconstruction uncovered the dire need for a disaster management logistics system. The lack of such a system significantly delayed the response to the urgent health needs of the population immediately following the hurricane. The Ministry of Health has recognized this need and requested technical assistance and support to develop this system and a plan for its use. This help is being provided through the TASC mechanism, carried out by TASC/JSI.

This project's main objective is to provide assistance to the Health Reform Commission and the Ministry of Health to develop a Disaster Management Logistics System and Strategy. The project has three main technical goals to be carried out at both the central and provincial levels. They will be completed in three phases: Technical Evaluation, Development and Execution of the Plan and Model, and Model Expansion and Integration. The technical goals of the project are the following:

• Assist in developing a strategy and the administrative requirements for a model information system to support the health reform process as it relates to disaster planning and logistics management.
  
• Provide technical assistance to develop these systems.
  
• Develop personnel capacities needed to respond to a disaster, including strategy development, human resource training, administration of information systems, forecasting, warehousing, communications, and distribution.