12092: News from the Batey Relief Alliance - May 2002 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: "Batey Relief Alliance, Inc. [BRA]" <bateyrelief@mindspring.com>


News from the Batey Relief Alliance: bateyrelief@mindspring.com

The new Batey Relief Alliance: members, partners and work:
    Founded in 1997, BRA operated as an US-based non-profit organization to
provide free medical care to the impoverished population of the Dominican
Republic’s sugar cane labor camps known as bateys. The organization
recruited health volunteers and secured donated medical supplies to carry
out medical missions. Since then, various Dominican-based health and
grassroots organizations, government agencies have joined the Alliance’s
membership in its relief efforts. BRA’s philosophy is to partner with all
parties and use their knowledge, expertise and wisdom in bringing about
culturally oriented socio-economic relief for all suffering in the bateys
without regards to race, sex, sexual orientation, creed or national origin.
    The US-based BRA mobilizes resources and channels support for its
regional operation. The restructured organization raises public awareness,
helps deliver on-going primary care and create self-sufficiency projects. In
addition to carry out short-term medical missions, BRA secures donated
medicines, medical supplies and equipment and distributes them to its local
members and partners to provide on-going care. The organization also
recruits volunteers for short-term and long-term assignments. Some of the
BRA’s NGO members include COTEDO, IDAC, ADOPLAFAM, MOSCHTA, CASCO and BRA
Dominicana. Its partner government agencies include, Dominican’s Health
Department [SESPAS], Dominican’s State Sugar Council [CEA] and the Haitian
Embassy. Praised by the Haitian General Consul in the Dominican Republic,
Edwin Paraison, "the Batey Relief Alliance has created a neutral space for
both the Dominican Republic and Haiti to work together."
    Membership is open to organizations, institutions or individuals wishing
to help advance BRA’s humanitarian mission in fundraising, health care,
education, self-sufficiency or public awareness projects. Call 917/627/5026
or bateyrelief@mindspring.com. For Spanish speakers contact Maria Berroa at
bra.dominicana@mindspring.com. Visit us at www.bateyrelief.org. BRA News.

Thousands of Haitian documents delivered:
The Haitian Embassy in the DR has produced more than 17,000 birth
certificates and passports for Haitians living in the Dominican Republic
without documentation. The delivery of the documents began on March 2 in
embassy offices in the National District, El Seybo and the Municipality of
Consuelo in San Pedro de Macoris, reports El Caribe. Haitian consul Edwin
Paraison says, *We are trying to cover as much of the Haitian population in
the Dominican Republic as possible.* He says the documentation project could
run for two years and recognize some 400,000 Haitian nationals living in the
DR without identification. Meanwhile, the Haitian National Police are
reportedly training a special unit that will be in charge of guarding the
Dominican/Haitian border against illegal immigration. The Haitian consul
says that in order to be effective, there needs to be a police or military
officer stationed every ten or 15 meters along the border. He predicts the
unit could be active in less than a month. DR1News.

BRA's July medical mission on schedule:
The Batey Relief Alliance, in collaboration wih the Haitian Association of
Physicians Abroad, is scheduled to send a team of health specialists to the
bateys of San Pedro de Macoris to deliver desperately needed medical
assistance to the impoverished population, including those identified as
Haitian migrant workers and their families. Care is free to all without
regards to sexual orientation, sex, national origin or race. The medical
operation is set for July 12 - 21, 2002.  BRA expects to receive donations
in medicines, medical supplies and equipment from the Catholic Medical
Mission Board, Direct Relief International, Bayer Corporation, Heart to
Heart.  Last year, BRA spent more than US 1 million in health care in the
bateys. This year the amount may reach as high as US $2.5 million. BRA News.

BRA to provide mobile eye care:
The BRA is currently raising funds to purchase and operate a mobile clinic
to provide eye care to the impoverished population living in remotely
located bateys, including Haitian migrant workers and their families. Local
schoolteachers and promoters will be trained to do vision screening. Cases
will be referred to the clinic for further testing and treatment - including
prescription of eyeglasses and drugs.  Cases of cataract and glaucoma that
require surgery will be done on site or through referrals to BRA's local
partner organizations, the SESPAS and the Lions Club.  The mobile eye care
clinic is set to be in operation starting February 2003.


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MEMBER OF GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL
www.bateyrelief.org
Batey Relief Alliance, Inc. (BRA)
Ulrick Gaillard, Executive Director
P.O. Box 300565
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230-0565 USA
(917) 627-5026
bateyrelief@mindspring.com

Maria Virtudes Berroa, Regional Director
Apartado Postal 5085
Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
(809) 383-1547
bra.dominicana@mindspring.com