BATEY CINCO CASAS, Dominican Republic. – On February 8th, 30 families living inside bateyes Cinco Casas and Cojobal in the province of Monte Plata received 30 bio-sand water filters through the funding and technical support of the Rotary Club of New York and the Rotary Club Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo.

The project will benefit 740 residents, many of whom are children and their families, pregnant women, and the elderly, and some of whom live with HIV/AIDS. The recipients are mostly undocumented Haitians immigrant workers and Dominicans living in extreme poverty with limited access to potable water, sanitations, food, adequate shelter, or medical care. The batey population has the Dominican Republic’s highest HIV/AIDS rate (8% as compared to the national average of only 1%) and a high rate of parasite infections, which contribute to an infant mortality of 31 deaths per 1,000 births.

Many batey residents consume waters from contaminated sewers or rivers – affecting most significantly children and PLWHA with a low immune system to defend against parasitic infections. Recipients also received training on how to operate and maintain the filters. The rotary clubs and the Batey Relief Alliance hope to expand the project into other bateyes creating a health life for more families.

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