Monte Plata, Dominican Republic – January 30, 2008. - Hundreds of people gathered in the municipality of Monte Plata to celebrate the opening of the “National Year for Health Promotion,” during which a ceremony and parade were carried out through the town.

BRA Dominicana (BRA) led the march with the Provincial Department of Health and diverse non-governmental organizations, taking part in the event to create consciousness and promote health and healthy living.

In accordance with the Millennium Development Goals, BRA continues to develop permanent projects in medical attention, prevention and health promotion in more than 60 bateyes and rural communities in the province. The programs include comprehensive care for children, prevention of tuberculosis, prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, family planning, immunizations, attention to hypertension, and prevention of cervical-uterine cancer.

BRA develops home visits and educational activities, training approximately 120 community health promoters and educating more than 500 patients each week, all of whom receive quality services from the organization’s Medical Clinic and the Healthcare Center.

BRA has been working on a campaign to change health behaviors by educating communities about issues of blindness, malnutrition, infectious diseases, parasites, STI/HIV/AIDS, dengue, leptospirosis, among others.

BRA collaborates with strategic partners like the Clinton Foundation, the Dominican State Department for the Control of STI/HIV/AIDS (DIGECITTS), Population Services International, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ADEMI, the Presidential Commission for AIDS (COPRESIDA), the Canadian Fund for local initiatives, the Presbyterian Church USA, among others.

For more information, please contact the executive director of BRA Dominicana, Maria Virtudes Berroa, at (809) 540-4947 or bradominicana@codetel.net.do. In order to learn more about the humanitarian work of BRA, please visit the website: www.bateyrelief.org/bradominicana.

WASHINGTON, DC. - On a three-hour train ride that started on the early cold morning of December 12th, the Batey Relief Alliance’s CEO, Ulrick Gaillard, left his Brooklyn base at 3:00am to arrive on time at the New York’s Penn Station to catch the Amtrak train at 5:30am bound for Washington DC with one goal in mind – seek the support of United States Representatives and agencies for more food for those who are very hungry and sick in the Dominican Republic’s impoverished batey and urban/rural communities.

The Batey Relief Alliance (BRA Dominicana) received a grant of $272,800 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to distribute 75 metric tons of food to more than 5,000 at-risk individuals who are severely affected by disease, poverty and hunger, including people living with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis sufferers, orphaned/vulnerable children, pregnant women and the elderly. Local partner groups helped BRA distribute the food in their own HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, including the Dominican’s Presidential AIDS Council (COPRESIDA) and General Directorate for the Control of Sexually transmitted Infections and AIDS (DIGECITTS), the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, etc.

The problem is the program grant, under the USAID’s Title II International Food Relief Program-Food for Peace, is only for one year and if not renewed for at least another two years, the lives of these disenfranchised people will be at stake, particularly those receiving antiretroviral treatment and potent medicines to fight opportunistic infections.

Before returning back to New York the same day on another three-hour train ride at 6:10pm, Gaillard crammed up six different meetings with representatives at the offices of Senator Hillary Clinton, Brooklyn’s Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, USAID, and other organizations that are involved in the production and distribution of food in impoverished regions of the world. “I am very pleased by the positive response and offer of support from Senator Clinton and Congresswoman Clarke,” said Gaillard.

The USAID encouraged Gaillard to submit another proposal to the agency in January seeking more funding for the food program. If approved, many lives will continue to be saved. If not approved, Gaillard plans on going back to Washington and lobby more.
The journey ended, for now, with Gaillard arriving home on the 12th at 11:15 pm after having to wait and wait for local trains to take him back to Brooklyn, and then a cab home to sleep.

DONATE

Dear Friend of the Batey Relief Alliance,

As you read this, thousands of children and families are struggling just to stay alive in Haiti’s most impoverished communities. But you can help them overcome their challenges and thrive … just as you’ve helped the residents of the Dominican Republic’s sugar cane bateyes.

After ten years of success in the Dominican Republic, the Batey Relief Alliance is now working to establish a permanent mission in the neighboring Haiti, where life is even harder … where thousands are stranded with virtually no access to basic medical care, medicines, food, clean water, or sanitation.

As you can see in this photo, Haitian families must scour the landfills each day for clothing, food and other essentials that you and I take for granted.

We cannot let this situation continue!

Thankfully, there is hope

We can save the lives of Haitians living on the edge in rural/urban slums and border communities with the Dominican Republic. Here’s what we must do:

• Control contagious diseases
• Educate the population about preventive health
• Build medical facilities
• Distribute clean water

We are confident of success … but we must raise $250,000 in 2008 to provide these lifesaving services. So we are reaching out to key friends like you to make a one-year financial commitment of $1,200 to help BRA expand into Haiti.

How you can help meet the challenge

You can make your tax-deductible gift in the way that suits you best:
• A one-time annual gift of $1,200
• Two gifts of $600
• Four gifts of $300

You may mail your check payable to Batey Relief Alliance to P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, NY 11230. Or make your gift online by clicking on the BRA’S Donate Now! button at www.bateyrelief.org 

Please send your generous contribution today … so that Haitian children and families can have a brighter tomorrow.

Respectfully,
Ulrick Gaillard, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Just as you’ve improved the lives of deserving people of the Dominican Republic, you can bring hope to thousands of children and families suffering in Haiti now. Please send your contribution today.

BUILDING ON SUCCESS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Why are we so confident we can make a difference in Haiti?

Because you have helped us achieve so much in the Dominican Republic: Success in the Dominican Republic:

The Batey Relief Alliance celebrated an important milestone on October 23, 2007 – its first ten years of success in the Dominican Republic. With your help, we can look forward to another resounding success in Haiti.

Please send your donation today. Return to How you can help meet the challenge