BATEY COJOBAL, MONTE PLATA, Dominican Republic – More than ten traditional healers or Oungans from Sabana Grande de Boya in the province of Monte Plata are currently participating in educational workshops organized by BRA Dominicana to learn about the HIV virus and the dangerous symptoms it causes.

The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA Dominicana) started this initiative aiming to train the oungans on how to recognize patients who may be infected and refer them to BRA’s medical clinics where they will receive free professional health services, including testing and antiretroviral treatment, if necessary.

One of the challenges in the fight against AIDS faced by health providers in certain parts of the world has been the belief by infected individuals who start developing symptoms to blame it on “black magic” “Vodou” or “bad spell on them” – and instead of seeking medical assistance, they go to local the healers for help, often when it is too late.

Since the new initiative, BRA has received five patients who have leaned about the clinics’ HIV services from the oungans they have visited. Dr. Wendy Valdez, the physician in charge of the BRA’s HIV Unit at Batey Cinco Casas, pointed out that although the referral system seems to be working, the next step is to educate the healers on the dangers of prescribing medicinal treatments to HIV patients. “These treatments can cause diarrhea and further debilitate the delicate bodies of patients with already weak immune systems,” added Dr. Valdez.

In the bateyes, it is a common practice to visit the local healer first and consider the doctor a second option. However, “visiting the doctor first can make a positive difference when a person has HIV or AIDS,” concluded Dr. Valdez.

For more information on BRA’s HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis work inside the bateyes of the Dominican Republic, please visit at www.bateyrelief.org.