ALBANY, New York. – On May 17th, 2011, Batey Relief Alliance’s founder/CEO, Ulrick Gaillard, will travel to New York State’s capital, Albany, to receive a Citation from members of the New York State Assembly recognizing the humanitarian work of the organization for the past fourteen years. The resolution was sponsored by Rhoda S. Jacobs, Assemblywoman for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn where BRA was founded on October 23, 1997.

The Legislative Body recognizes that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organizations and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of both the local and the global community and its citizenry; and that the vital mission of the BRA is to address the socioeconomic and health needs of families in the Caribbean, particularly those with children who are severely affected by poverty, disease and hunger in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, regardless of race, sex, creed, religion, economic status, national origin or political affiliation.

Recognizing its strength and commitment, and the quality and extent of its programs and services, the Legislative Body further extends its highest commendation to the Batey Relief Alliance and applauds its preeminent endeavors and accomplishments.

Repuesta al Cólera en Haïti y la Republica Dominicana

NEW YORK. – 7 de abril de 2011. Hoy se conmemora el Día Mundial de la Salud, ocasión en la que Batey Relief Alliance-Dominicana, junto a la Dirección Provincial de Salud (DPS) de Monte Plata y diversas organizaciones de base comunitaria, está intensificando una campaña de prevención del cólera en varias comunidades vulnerables, incluyendo los bateyes, del Distrito Municipal Don Juan como Yamasá y Sabana Grande de Boya, con el fin de mantener conciencia en la población.

Mientras, en Haïti, Batey Relief Alliance-Haïti continúa su intervención a través de su Centro de Tratamiento de Cólera en la comuna fronteriza Anse-a-Pitres. “Nuestros equipos de salud y técnicos, junto a los líderes comunitarios, organizacionales internacionales y las autoridades de salud de ambos países, están distribuyendo cloro y sobres de PuR para purificar el agua,” agrego Ulrick Gaillard, Jefe Ejecutivo de BRA. Durante visitas a las comunidades, BRA realiza también charlas de orientación y entrega panfletos con información de prevención.

BRA trabaja también la estrategia para el cambio de comportamiento entre niños/as, jóvenes y adultos, y mujeres y hombres en el cuidado de la salud con los temas de prevención de ceguera y desnutrición, dengue y leptopirosis, VIH/SIDA, manejo de vectores, entre otras.

Para más información, favor contactar a BRA Dominicana al (809) 540-4947 o bradominicana@bateyrelief.org. Para conocer más sobre el trabajo humanitario de BRA, visita el sitio Web: www.bateyrelief.org.

ANSE-A-PITRES, Haiti. – As part of a cooperative agreement between the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Development Grants Program and the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA), a team of USAID evaluators spent a week at BRA’s offices in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in a knowledge exchange and monitoring experience where the officers verified the organization’s financial execution, monitoring procedures, and onsite activities for the agency-funded Women’s Empowerment Program taking place in 3 border communes of Haiti’s southeast department: Anse-a-Pitres, Thiotte and Grand Gosier. The program aims to organize and train 600 Haitian women and give them the tools they need to advance their own interests around issues of health, gender-based violence, food insecurity and financial/microcredit management.

A community meeting was also organized and held with approximately 200 active women, including 30 group representatives for an interactive session with the USAID officers where they presented their gratitude and experiences as project beneficiaries. “It was a great opportunity to hear their expectations and get a more profound understanding of some of the challenges they encounter,” said Mirlande Trazile, BRA’s Program Coordinator-Haiti. The women spoke enthusiastically about a sense of entitlement bestowed upon them through trainings on gender-based violence and financial/microcredit management and small-scale home agricultural gardens many of them have started to produce their own food. Following the meeting, field staff took the officers to visit some of the gardens in Anse-a-Pitres, Banane and Boucan Guillaume. “It was very exciting to see ripe vegetables in some of the gardens (cabbages and tomatoes) and hear about the different techniques taught as part of trainings to obtain better crops,” added Trazile.