Dajabon, Dominican Republic -. On this April 14th, 2004, BRA?s multinational foreign volunteer health professionals returned to their makeshift clinics in Dajabon to deliver emergency medical and dental care to hundreds of Haitian and Dominican families. ?We were able to provide free medical and dental assistance with free medicines, vitamins, food and clothing supplies to more than 800 children and adults yesterday, and the number is growing fast,? said Dr. Raymond Thertulien, Medical Director of the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA).

BRA Dominicana spearheads the operation along with the Batey Relief Alliance and its member organizations, Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID) and Fundacion Todo Por La Salud (FUNTOSALUD).

The Dominican Immigration and Customs offices and the military at the border collaborates by having up to 1000 Haitian families cross into Dajabon daily in the morning to receive care, and return back to Haiti before the border gate is closed at five in the afternoon. ?This gesture is crucial and well received by the BRA. Without the support of the Dominican authorities granting temporary entry permits to Haitian families affected by continued political and economic chaos in Haiti, our mission would have been frustrated,? said Maria Virtudes Berroa, Executive Director of BRA Dominicana. Recent warnings prohibit Dominican citizens and foreigners from crossing the border into Haiti.

Many children we are seeing are sick from and treated for various childhood preventable diseases and burn injuries. Adults received care and education for sexually transmitted diseases, hypertension, abdominal pain and fever. ?BRA will travel to Manzanillo on Thursday, April 15th where it will continue to assist other needy families,? said Ulrick Gaillard, Executive Director of the BRA. Log onto our website at www.bateyrelief.org to receive daily updates on our humanitarian relief mission at the Haiti/DR border.

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