BATEY COJOBAL, Monte Plata, Dominican Republic – On January 23rd 2007, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA Dominicana) organized a full day of learning and fun for twenty-two children who are HIV-positive or live with a family member who has the virus. The children live in impoverished bateyes in the province of Monte Plata where basic services like water, sewage and electricity are scarce. “Poor living conditions often pose a serious threat to the already-fragile health of children who are HIV-positive,” said Dr. Ana Celia Carrero, BRA Dominicana’s project and HIV Care Unit coordinator. Dr. Carrero added that those children have weak immune systems that can not protect them against diseases caused by contaminated waters or foods.

BRA recognized the importance of creating awareness among the children by teaching them the importance of taking care of themselves in order to remain healthy—especially those who live with caretakers who are HIV-positive and are at times too sick to properly look after them. Dr. Carrero reminded the children of simple steps, like washing their hands, eating healthy and brushing their teeth, they can take to fight dangerous germs. The children had also time to run around, have fun, eat cake, and play with toys donated by the Dominican National Lottery.

In partnership with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, USAID/Family Health International and the Dominican Ministry of Health, BRA Dominicana implements the “Rainbow Project”—a comprehensive HIV/AIDS education, prevention and treatment program where more than 2700 AIDS sufferers, people living with HIV, and orphaned/vulnerable children receive free testing, antiretroviral treatment, medical care and medicines, nutrition, and pre and post counseling.

For more information about BRA’s HIV/AIDS program, please visit www.bateyrelief.org. For a donation, contact Ulrick Gaillard at bra@bateyrelief.org.