BRA’s first report on Mobile Health Project in the bateyes

In May 2003, BRA inaugurated at Batey Altagracia in the province of Monte Plata a 30-foot, well equipped and staffed mobile clinic making basic health care accessible to all for the first time inside batey communities without regards to race, sex, creed, national origin or political affiliations — a concept that remains new and foreign to many who have been denied such often due to fear of deportation, racial discrimination or poverty. ?We are happy that our work is making a difference to a population that has almost nothing,? said Ulrick Gaillard, Executive Director of the Batey Relief Alliance. From May to August, we provided free medicines and vitamins, and follow-up care in the areas of general medicines, pediatrics, gynecology, dentistry to 1300 impoverished children and their families from 25 bateyes and other localities. Another 325 received free eye care and eyeglasses through our Blindness Prevention Program. The mobile is now stationed at Batey Cojobal in Monte Plata. Our health care delivery is being carried out with the support of the Dominican?s State Sugar Council (CEA) and the Ministry of Health (SESPAS) offering logistics and volunteer heath professionals to join hands with two BRA?s long-term volunteers from the United States.