05 November, 2004
Flood victims….. BRA’s medical center in construction
New York City, November 15, 2004 – In the aftermath of flash floods, mud slides and Tropical Storm Jeanne, which together killed close to 5,000 and left more than 300,000 homeless in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, thousands still face a grim future in Haiti and in the bateyes of the Dominican Republic without basic living necessities, including food, shelter and health care.
Thanks to your generous financial support earlier this summer, the Batey Relief Alliance (BRA) responded swiftly by dispatching teams of health care experts to the island of Hispaniola to provide disaster medical and food relief to flood ravaged areas. Thousands of lives were saved and children were fed. More than 200,000 poor marginalized Haitians and Dominicans who live in the bateyes, however, are still affected by the recent tragedies, as they are unable to return home to Haiti or meet their long-term basic needs.
Since the overthrow of President Jean Bertrand Aristide in February 2004, Haiti has fallen into a state of disaster, anarchy and despair. The country?s economy and healthcare infrastructures have virtually collapsed. The floods from Jeanne destroyed all of the rice and fruit harvest in the Artibonite, Haiti’s breadbasket. Now, the country cannot even feed itself without outside help. There is no security or respect for the rule of law. Meanwhile, victims who now live in the bateyes with other Haitians and Dominicans are completely isolated, forgotten and live in sub-basic conditions.
BRA is responding once again, but this time on a long-term scale by building a medical center to provide sustainable health assistance to the affected populations. The complex, to be equipped with a laboratory, an ambulance and a twelve-room volunteer dormitory, will provide care in the areas of general medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, dentistry, ophthalmology, and preventive health education in HIV/AIDS. Under construction at batey Cinco Casas in the province of Monte Plata, the medical center when completed will have the capacity to deliver primary care and free medicines to at least 20,000 persons each year.
The Lions Clubs International Foundation and the Dominican government together have already contributed in cash $115,000 toward initial construction and renovation phase of the complex. Key BRA international partners such as the Catholic Medical Mission Board, Direct Relief International, Food for the Poor and Canada’s Colaboration Sante Internationale will donate the medicines, medical supplies and equipment.
BRA is now making an urgent appeal of $125,000 to complete, equip and operate the facility. We desperately need your financial support. Please help us meet our goal by making a tax-deductible contribution ONLINE or mailing your check payable to Batey Relief Alliance, P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230.
Should you have any questions or need further information on how to help, please contact Ulrick Gaillard directly at (917) 627-5026 or bra@bkreative.net.
