[Gasfghj]

Shalena....

birthing clinics are BADLY needed on the border since the DR medical system has to handle a lot of Haitian births because there are no facilities on the border in Haiti .. EXCEPT for a really good hospital in Belledare (across from Elias Pina) and NOW a clinic in Anse A Pitres run by Batay Relief Alliance..http://www.bateyrelief.org/ I suggest that you contact Ulrich Gaillard, who is Haitians American, who is based in NYC and here in SD and see if you can meet with him.. perhaps set up something in Ounaminthe..
He is very hooked up with both the DR government and the Haitian government so he may very well be able to get something going for you.

Dajabon is a very habitable little town, not far from Santiago. I do not know the intricacies of your program requirements, but Ulrich brings in lots of different medical teams teams to work, This is one NGO that I can whole heartedly endorse.

You can also contact Eve Ensler,Eve Ensler | V-Day: A Global Movement to End Violence Against Women and Girls Worldwide. who run a safe house program in the north of Haiti. They may have other contacts for you.

As for the security situation in Haiti.. it may come as a shock but really Haiti is much safer than the DR. There are many fewer murders and general violent crimes. Of course, life in the camps is bad and the rapes have gone up. The publicized kidnappings have been, almost entirely, of Haitian Americans or Haitian Canadians who have come back on vacation.. The publicity cannot say this.. since a Haitian American is .. well.. American.

The fact is that there are simply fewer guns.. and many towns have been without any sort of police.

It would be great to get something going in Ounaminthe.. which is really where the need is greatest.

[wonceinee]

Thank you do much. I will get in touch and see what I can find out. With such a great need on both sides of the border, I am hoping I can figure something out.

SHALENA