The Dominican Republic is an island paradise and home to many snowbirds trying to escape the bitter cold every winter. Regardless of what visitors set out to achieve while on vacation they cannot avoid occasionally bumping into someone from neighboring Haiti. If one is to peel away the layers and delve deeper he/she will discover an imminent public health crisis facing hundreds of Haitians in this beautiful island paradise, especially in and around  the sugar plantations in the so called “Bateys” where the plight of many of these “stateless” people is at its worst and social conditions are primitive. Visiting this spring with a group of public health colleagues from Rutgers was a poignant experience that demand more than just a cursory awareness. From  preliminary evaluations of the health and social conditions in many of these “bateys ” it is clear that the situation requires urgent attention. There is abject poverty compounded by deficient / non-existent access to drinking water ,food ,basic  needs, sanitation and waste disposal. Men, women and children including the elderly and young babies face certain death and disease if nothing is done immediately to get beyond simple awareness. Many organizations within the DR ,USA and Canada are providing assistance. Much more needs to be done and it doesn’t require much resources. Get in contact with Rutgers School of Public Health for more information and what you can do to help.

-Sean

There is never a drop in the bucket when it comes to helping people. As this DR trip comes to an end I realize that even though I could not change these individuals lives on a grand scale there was some form of a change. I understand that the common saying that we are all people no matter where we come from is truer than I thought , that these people have the same hopes and dreams that everyone that I know has and definitely have every right to obtain. Living in a house with people that I have never met was nothing but a blessing and in turn we were able to be a blessing. I hope that the joy that we had as a group was able to shine bright enough to show these individuals that joy is alive and it is a strength. So as we leave here and get back to the normal program, my prayer is that we will do as Dr. Bob said and “stay awake”. That we will keep the fire alive for all injustices going around us and far away. The strength of the human spirit trumps any life difficulty and through this, we can all help each other over come.

Sheena