15087: News from the Batey Relief Alliance (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

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


Please forward this e-mail to others

2003 medical mission: BRA and AMHE partner in health care delivery
The Batey Relief Alliance, in partnership with the Association of Haitian
Physicians Abroad (AMHE), is setting up its annual medical mission to the
Dominican Republic. The mission will be held from May 2 through 10 in the
bateys of Monte Plata province. Free care and medicines will be provided to
more than 3400 impoverished adults and children languishing in the country's
sugar cane plantations labor enclaves known as bateys, including Haitian
migrant workers and their families. We expect to serve another 18000 by
donating critical drugs, supplies and equipment to BRA's local member and
partner organizations serving our target population. The needy residents
will receive free health care in general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology,
dentistry and preventive health education around HIV/AIDS.  More than 30
health care professionals and strategists from the United States, Canada,
Great Britain, the Dominican Republic and Haiti have registered to
participate in the project.  International organizations such as the
Catholic Medical Mission Board and the Direct Relief International will
provide most of the drugs, medical supplies and equipment. The Dominican
Republic's Ministry of Health (SESPAS) and the State Sugar Council (CEA) and
the Haitian Embassy will partner with BRA in logistics. The local Peace
Corps office will provide volunteer health translators. Basic health care is
a rarity in the bateys due to money, racial discrimination, poor health
infrastructure and limited public access.  Should you need further
information about our humanitarian work, on how to apply or to make a
donation, please visit our website at www.bateyrelief.org.

BRA's mobile health care project:  full speed ahead
Through a partnership with the NY-based Catholic Medical Mission Board, five
US trained health care providers [1 Internist, 1 Physician Assistant, 1
Nurse and 1 Public Health Expert] left their homes on Feb. 28 to join a team
of Haitian and Dominican health experts in the Dominican Republic where they
will spend one full year providing free mobile health assistance to the
impoverished Dominican and Haitian batey population. BRA Dominicana and
BRA's Executive Director, Ulrick Gaillard welcomed the volunteers in Santo
Domingo - and later on held several meetings with the Dominican's State
Sugar Council's Chief, Victor Manuel Baez. Mr.Baez expressed gratitude to
BRA in the name of the nation and acknowledged the crucial importance of the
organization's work in the country.  The volunteers are now undergoing a one
month-long orientation in the country where they are learning about the
culture, health care system, the batey communities and their population's
health needs and groups they will work with.

The mobile health care project is to complement BRA's annual medical
missions and ongoing health care intervention through its local member
organizations. BRA will utilize a 30-foot  mobile clinic to bring
desperately needed health care assistance to impoverished families and
children living in remote rural areas - and cannot afford basic care because
of money or long distance. The mobile project will be inaugurated May 5,
2003. The project has been financed by the Sovereign Order of Malta, Lions
Clubs International, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Mission Fund, New
Jersey Eye Glass Recycling Center, and private donors. BRA will collaborate
with the Dominican's Ministry of Health (SESPAS) and State Sugar Council
(CEA), the Haitian Embassy, Peace Corps, Lions Clubs in Santo Domingo,
Catholic Medical Mission Board and Direct Relief International to obtain
drugs, supplies and equipment - secure volunteers and training - and in
logistics. Needy families will receive affordable care in general medicines,
pediatrics, gynecology, dentistry, ophthalmology - and preventive health
education around HIV/AIDS.

BRA to host UNCW and the Transformational Journeys
BRA will host more than 12 students and faculty from the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington traveling to the Dominican Republic from May 8
through the 14th.  The organization will also host 14 travelers in July with
the Transformational Journeys - a group based in Kansas. Michele Wucker,
author of the book, Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the
Struggle for Hispaniola, will coordinate the July group and lecture.

BRA Dominicana will offer the two groups a unique opportunity to learn more
about BRA's work and the batey situation - and how they can offer their
support. The groups will reside in the bateys and Santo Domingo and engage
in daily activities with the batey communities. The goals are to promote
cultural and historical understanding, community building and public
awareness.  If you have a group or a university that is interested in
similar projects with BRA Dominicana, please contact us immediately at
bateyrelief@mindspring.com or in Spanish at bra.dominicana@mindspring.com
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BRA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
All donations are tax-deductible.
BRA's Tax ID Number: 11-3403494
Donate on line at 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

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

MEMBER OF GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL