MONTE PLATA, Dominican Republic—Rubella is a viral disease that can have serious complications. The threat is particularly significant for pregnant women and their unborn babies who can suffer from sight and hearing impairment as well as serious developmental problems. The good news is that Rubella can be easily prevented with a vaccine. This past October, the Dominican’s Ministry of Health—SESPAS joined forces with the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA Dominicana) in a two-month nationwide campaign to vaccinate the population between seven and thirty nine years. BRA personnel at the new medical center located inside Batey Cinco Casas were fully engaged in participating in this important public health campaign.

“The first days were the most arduous ones as visiting school children from various nearby rural communities came in great numbers to receive the shots,” said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO. In the subsequent weeks, however, BRA intensified efforts to reach marginal populations living in distant bateyes. Armed with coolers, syringes and alcohol swabs, doctors, nurses, and driven health promoters took long rides to isolated places where vaccination stands were set for the day. “The job was not always easy for our staff, but definitely rewarding, as with each vaccine delivered, there is the certainty of lifetime protection,” added Gaillard.

For Naira Arellano, an Ecuadorian volunteer at BRA’s center, participating in the vaccination campaign was also memorable for a different reason – “it was a unique opportunity to see the little communities where many of our patients came from and understand a little better the difficulties they must overcome to reach our medical center.”

Support BRA’s humanitarian health programs in the Dominican Republic by making a life-saving contribution ONLINE or by mailing your tax-deductible check payable to Batey Relief Alliance, P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230. Visit the Batey Relief Alliance at www.bateyrelief.org.