Ouanaminthe is a city located in Northeastern Haiti along the Dominican Republic border.

Located in Northeastern Haiti, along border of Dominican Republic.

 The focus of the BRCC Vet Tech Club’s “Haiti-Project” concerns a group of 25 multitasking farmers and 3 Veterinary Technicians in Ouanaminthe.  This group of farmers is known as as GEDWA, Groupe des Eleveurs pour le Development de Ouanaminthe.  GEDWA is in charge of animal farming and agricultural projects.  3 Veterinary Technicans- Jean Sergot, Tiresias Dieudonne, and Silphard St. Phare,  are responsible for the medical care of these animals.  Currently, the technicians have no medical equipment or medications to work with.  In the event that an animal is need of medical care, a farmer must obtain a list of medical supplies from the Veterinary Technicians.  The farmer must then travel across the border into the Dominican Republic to purchase the supplies.  Upon return with supplies, the farmer must then pay the Veterinary Technicians for their services. 

Many of the farmers are unable to afford the cost of travel to the Dominican Republic, the cost of medical supplies, as well as the cost of technician services.  If a farmer does not have the money to purchase a full course of treatment, the technicians have been taught not to begin treatment.  In many instances, the farmers of GEDWA are able to afford services, but not the cost of travel to and supplies from the Dominican Republic.  Therefore, animals in need of medical attention are often left untreated.

At this time, the primary goal of The Haiti-Project is to donate medical equipment directly to the Veterinary Technicians, as well as raise funds for the purchase of much needed medications.  The medical supplies donated will belong to the Veterinary Technicians and therefore be able to be used to treat multiple animals.  This will eliminate the cost of medical supplies to the farmers, who will then be able to afford the cost of treatment.  A specific list of medical supplies  has been created and supplied by Lead Veterinary Technican, Tiresias Dieudonne.

The second, larger goal of The Haiti-Project is to raise funds to send 3 to 4 volunteers to Ouanaminthe.  The volunteer veterinarians and veterinary technicians will be able to provide further instruction to the technicians concerning bovine care.  Topics in need of instruction include: nutrtitional requirements of cattle, selecting for genetetic traits (i.e. milk production), breed identification, dental aging of cattle, water consumption, and record keeping.  The BRCC Vet Tech Club is currently awaiting the go ahead on this area of the project.  More details to come…

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation, please visit the “Donate Here” link at the top of the page.

If you would like to be involved in this project or have questions, please contact:  Heidi Schmader, Project Manager, at hschmader@haiti-project.org