SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic. – In an effort to address critical healthcare needs of thousands of people living in border communities on both sides of the island of Hispaniola—shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the Batey Relief Alliance, last month, led a strategic meeting bringing to the table top Haitian and Dominican healthcare officials and international stakeholders to discuss disease prevention, control and reduction.

HIV/AIDS was high on the list as the two countries combined account for more than 75% of HIV/AIDS cases in the Caribbean region and second highest to sub-Saharan Africa. “Although both Haiti and the Dominican Republic have made tremendous effort to address and reduce rates of infection, but the threat of the disease is still great among vulnerable people and communities,” said Ulrick Gaillard, CEO of the Batey Relief Alliance.

The Ministry of Health of Haiti, the Dominican Presidential Council on HIV/AIDS—COPRESIDA, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and others, all, have pledged their support to the Batey Relief Alliance’s proposed healthcare and HIV/AIDS expansion into poverty-stricken, neglected and isolated border communities of Anse-a-Pitres and Pedernales.

NEW YORK, June 4, 2008. – The Kentucky-based Presbyterian Church-USA’s Committee on the Self Development of People (SDOP) has approved a generous grant of $126,728 to install water systems inside four batey communities of the Dominican Republic.

The two recipients of the grants, the Batey Relief Alliance’s field organization, BRA DOMINICANA and the Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women—MUHDA, will collaborate to distribute clean and potable water to thousands of residents living in four batey communities: Palmarejo, El Bosque, Cojobal and La Pista de Juan Sanchez.

These bateyes are located in the province of Monte Plata and are deprived of the most basics for their residents. “Hundreds of community health promoters will also be organized to educate local residents about their right to access to healthcare, nutrition, and education” said Maria Virtudes Berroa, Executive Director of BRA Dominicana.

“There is no reason why people have to resort to drinking contaminated waters to harm their health. We want to benefit the majority of residents with these water systems to enhance the quality of their lives,” said Cynthia White, SDOP coordinator.

The new water project is an extension of the Batey Relief Alliance’s current clean water campaign distributing Biosand water filters to hundreds of batey residents, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of New York, the Rotary Club Mirador and Rotary Club Arroyo Hondo Santo Domingo.

To learn more about or support this new water initiative that will save lives in the bateyes, contact SDOP at www.pcusa.org/sdop, or 1-888-728-7228 extension 5790. You may also reach the Batey Relief Alliance at www.bateyrelief.org, (917) 627-5026, or bra@bateyrelief.org.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, June 4, 2008. – Miguel A. Puente H. was voted unanimously on May 28th by members of the Board of BRA Dominicana to be their new President—a top post that was filled prior by journalist Nexcy D’ Leon. “I am truly honored to be part of this great organization and chosen for this important post,” said Mr. Puente.

The Batey Relief Alliance created in 2003 its field organization, BRA DOMINICANA, to help carry out its humanitarian mission inside vulnerable communities of the Dominican Republic, including the bateyes where thousands of children and their families are severely affected by poverty, disease and hunger. “Mr. Puente is a man of great character, discipline, and dedication,” said Ulrick Gaillard, Founder of the BRA Dominicana.

BRA Dominicana operates two modern medical families and implements more than a dozen health projects inside the bateyes in the province of Monte Plata. Its main headquarters are located in the Sector Piantini of the country’s capital, Santo Domingo. The entire field operation is run by a seven-member board of directors, a Chief Executive, an Executive Director, and more than 70 field workers, community health promoters, and foreign volunteers.

Other members of the board include Ramon Colombo, Vice-President, Nexcy D’ Leon, Secretary, Edilgardo Peña, Treasurer, Ramon Manuel Garcia, Trustee, Dr. Raymond Thertulien, Trustee, and Ulrick Gaillard, Trustee.