09 August, 2010
PIANTINI, Santo Domingo, D.R. – Evaluators from Columbia University School of Social Work and Indiana University Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and School of Public and Environmental Affairs recently conducted a two-month study to evaluate patient treatment and satisfaction at BRA’s medical center in the province of Monte Plata. Three years earlier, BRA summoned a much broader study by a team of researchers from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and Mailman School of Public Health to determine the impact the organization’s humanitarian health services have on the Dominican Republic’s vulnerable populations.
Both studies have found that BRA’s health programs are meeting an unmet need for quality health services in DR’s vulnerable communities and have a very high level of satisfaction among beneficiaries. Some key findings have also found that BRA has greatly improved the population’s ability to obtain quality health services; 96% of patients are “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the services while 100% expressed plans to return for future medical needs; BRA has an absolute advantage in providing HIV Care and Treatment services in the region of Monte Plata; and BRA has a strong advantage in the provision of health promotion services through volunteer health promoters. Despite BRA’s relatively well-positioned and competitive work, however, 51% of patients recommended that BRA offers a greater variety of specialized medical services; has a greater flow of essential medicines; and builds a 24-hour/day in-patient clinic.
Since 1997, BRA delivers critical health services and essential medicines to more than 80,000 people each year living in impoverished communities including the bateyes, urban and rural slums and border localities. In 2005, BRA built and operated an integrated modern medical center inside batey Cinco Casas offering a variety of services, including primary health care, pediatrics, counseling, dental services, ophthalmology, gynecology, and specialized services for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. “In our continuing effort to improve the quality of our services and meet the community’s health needs, BRA sought to collect critical data and assess organizational and community needs in order to appropriately plan for long-term capacity building and growth,” said Ulrick Gaillard, BRA’s CEO.
BRA’s successful heath intervention is due to the available of free medicines to the poor donated by loyal partners such as Direct Relief International, Catholic Medical Mission Board, National Cancer Coalition, Vitamin Angel Alliance, etc.
Since January 2010, BRA expanded its health intervention into the border regions of Haiti operating a medical clinic in the commune of Anse-a-Pitres.
