MONTE PLATA, Dominican Republic. Beautiful velones (candles), canvas bags, flower arrangements and kitchen towels are stored at BRA’s clinic in Batey Cinco Casas until their display in an open house to be held in the Monte Plata Province. These works of arts were carefully and patiently elaborated by men and women who are living with the HIV virus or have family members who do. Between August 2005 and July 2006, BRA conducted 18 sessions (Talleres Vocacionales de Manualidades) where these crafts were elaborated. Dr. Denis Cespedes from the BRA was in charge of teaching the skills and the project was part of Proyecto Arcoiris financed by USAID. Under Proyecto Arcoiris, HIV/AIDS patients receive a variety of medical and psychosocial support services from BRA’ clinics and personnel. Every week, a session (taller) took place in different locations around Monte Plata. Between 20-30 people would gather in Sabana Grande, Cojobal, Cruce de la Jagua, and Don Juan to have a space to cultivate their talents among friends and family. Now these artists have a date to look forward when their hard work and creativity will be presented to their communities prior to proudly decorating their homes.

AIDS is ravaging the lives of children in the bateyes. Please help BRA fight AIDS in the bateyes by making a gift of $250, $500, or more payable to Batey Relief Alliance, and mail to P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230.

MONTE PLATA, Dominican Republic. Jessie Clyde, a student completing her Masters in Public Health at Columbia University’s Mailman School, spent ten weeks of her 2006 summer at Centro Medico BRA in the Batey Cinco Casas. Jessie was one of four students from Columbia who traveled to the Dominican Republic, under the Dominican Exchange Program, to complete projects with different organizations working in community health and social justice. Jessie conducted a patient satisfaction survey and interviews with staff and volunteers at BRA’s Centro Medico and Mobile Clinic. The purpose of this project was to gather different perspectives from providers and users as an assessment of the services of BRA. Jessie completed more than one hundred surveys and interviews and the data compiled was analyzed to show the areas in which BRA’s services are the strongest and those that need work. The Pharmacy at Centro Medico BRA is the last stop for the patients before they return home after their consult. Jessie became a constant presence outside the Pharmacy, alluring patients with a friendly smile to complete her survey despite the heat and their eagerness to leave. Regardless of the challenges that an exit interview presents, Jessie was successful in fulfilling her goals and contributed to the growth of BRA with a valuable piece of information.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic. From August 11th to the 18th, Dr. Ana Celia Carrero, medical coordinator of the Centro Medico BRA, attended the Annual International HIV/AIDS conference in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Carrero joined a delegation of twenty other Dominican representatives of different organizations that work with HIV/AIDS patients in the country. It was the first time that a member from BRA attended the conference, and this was undoubtedly a very relevant trip. BRA’s major medical clinics provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS services including free testing, psychological support and food security. These services are funded by Poyecto Conecta of USAID which also sponsored Dr. Carrero’s trip to Canada. Other major partners to BRA’s HIV/AIDS program include the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Dominican’s Ministry of Health’s DIGECITTS and COPRESIDA. The conference was an opportunity to learn about the latest protocols in HIV care which need to be applied in the Dominican Republic. BRA also discussed the possibility of participating in a project to offer HIV testing to all patients that present to the clinic suffering from diarrhea for five days or more. A similar initiative conducted in Zambia showed detected a high percentage of infection.