MONTE PLATA, Dominican Republic. – Since 2005, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) developed a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program delivering free healthcare, antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and medicines to hundreds of children and adults infected/affected by HIV and AIDS inside the bateyes in the province of Monte Plata. The program is implemented in partnerships with the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Dominican’s Ministry of Health. “But one crucial component was missing in the program all along, until three years ago the USAID donated to the BRA 75 MT tons of dehydrated food to distribute to most at-risk patients of malnutrition undergoing ARV treatment,” said Ulrick Gaillard, CEO of the BRA.

In its second-year of funding, the USAID completely financed the food program with annual grants of $272,800 of which, $173,100 goes toward the food commodities and $99,700 for the receipt, rapid transportation, delivery, and distribution of the commodities to the vulnerable populations, including HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis sufferers, pregnant women, the elderly and grandparents caring for orphaned/vulnerable children (OVC). “The International Food Relief Partnership (IFRP) is a USAID Food for Peace Title II Initiative to support the production, stockpiling, transportation, delivery, and distribution of shelf-stable, prepackaged foods by U.S. non-profit and Public International Organizations. And we are glad to partner with the BRA to help the people of the Dominican Republic,” said Ben Vogler, IFRP’s Program Officer.

The food program complements two other BRA programs: the Micronutrient/deworming providing food to 55,000 children taking multivitamins and antiparasitic medicines, and the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment providing food to those who are malnourished and undergoing ARV therapy or taking potent medicines to fight opportunistic diseases. “Proper nutrition has shown to have not only positive physical and psychological results on our patients, but also tremendous economic impacts on their communities,” added Gaillard.

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