Puerto Rico is an island located between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic. It is
a commonwealth of the United States, and its residents are U.S.
citizens. Puerto Rico has a land mass of 5,324 square miles, with
an estimated population of 3,927,776. The capital, San Juan, is
located on the northern coast of the island. According to 2006 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 98.7% of the population is Hispanic Latino. 75.4%
of the population is white, 7.7 % African-American/Black, 0.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, and 11.9% other.
As of fiscal year 2001-2002, Puerto Rico had 68 hospitals,
12 of them belonged to the public sector, according to a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
report. Puerto Rico faces both the health concerns of developing
nations in treating malnutrition and infectious diseases, as well
as the chronic health problems faced by developed nations, such
as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median family income
for Puerto Ricans in 2006 was $20,425, with approximately 41.6%
of families below poverty level. Data from the 2006 Census finds
that 33.9% of residents had not completed high school. Approximately
47.6% of the population 16 years and older is part of the labor
force.
For additional resources and information, please see: Atlantic
Territory and Commonwealth.
Data Sources:
CIA
World Fact Book: Puerto Rico
Health
in the Americas: Puerto Rico, PAHO
Puerto
Rico Fact Sheet, U.S. Census Bureau
Organizations
Academia de Directores Médicos de Puerto Rico (ADMPR)
State/regional organization
The Puerto Rico Academy of Medical Directors is a non-profit organization that provides educational activities to clinical providers to improve the quality of health care in Puerto Rico.
Asociación de Hospitales de Puerto Rico
State/regional organization
Puerto Rico's hospital association. Information provided in Spanish.
Departmento de Salud, Puerto Rico
State government
Puerto Rico Department of Health. Information provided in Spanish.
Fodos Unidos de Puerto Rico
Nonprofit/Foundation
Dedicated to strengthening the social and health care services in Puerto Rico. Provides financial support to 155 partner organizations and affiliated agencies and special projects that offer direct services. Information in English and Spanish.
Gobierno de Puerto Rico
International organization
Official site for the government of Puerto Rico. Information provided in Spanish.
HUD Community Development Block Grants: Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.
Puerto Rico Primary Care Association (PRPCA)
State/regional organization
Represents corporations, organizations and healthcare professionals with interest in providing preventive and primary care services that are responsive to the healthcare needs of the communities that they serve. Information provided in English and Spanish.
Funding
Best Buy Teach Award Program
Grants to schools to recognize creative uses of interactive technology in K-12 classrooms.
Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Program
Funds projects that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and rural community development.
Inactive Funding
Inactive Funding Opportunities -
Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.
Documents, Reports and Other Publications
Health in the Americas: Puerto Rico
Sponsoring organization: Pan American Health Organization Offers data on the health situation of people living in Puerto Rico. It describes and analyzes the progress, constraints, and challenges the state faces in their efforts to improve the health of their people. Covers socio-economic and demographic information, health status, and health services. Date: 2007
Maternal and Child Health Services Title V Block Grant State Narrative for Puerto Rico
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau Puerto Rico's Title V maternal and child health annual report for 2005. Includes an overview of Puerto Rico, its health system, and maternal and child health status. Date: 09 / 2006
Title V Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment: Puerto Rico
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau Provides access to Puerto Rico's maternal and child health needs assessment for the period of 2005-2010. Includes a detailed overview of maternal and child health status in Puerto Rico. Date: 2005
Success Stories
Rural Outreach Project (ROPE) from the Southeast Rural Health Outreach Consortium
The Rural Outreach ProjEct (ROPE) was designed to link residents of Puerto Rico's southeastern mountains with
distant health care centers. It has also established five rural facilities in these outlying areas to provide access to education, health maintenance, and disease prevention services within the local community.
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