WASHINGTON. - Dominican Republic will head the hemisphere’s fight against rubella and the congenital rubella syndrome, with the designation of the First Lady Margarita Cedeño as the continent’s ambassador for the elimination of the disease.

Cedeño’s designation took place during the Pan-American Health Organization’s (OPS) 27th Pan-American Sanitary Conference, held from October 1 to 5.

In her speech before the OPS the Dominican First Lady said last year more than five million Dominicans between seven and 39 years of age were vaccinated against rubella and the congenital rubella syndrome nationwide, which prompted the international organism to grant the certificate on the disease’s elimination.

Cedeño said Dominican Republic is also committed to collaborate with Haiti to eradicate the disease and will accompany the Haitian authorities in the vaccination effort slated for November.