Silver Spring, Maryland - According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is the only non-governmental organization currently operating in the South Ossetia region of Georgia.

ADRA first implemented a primary health care program in November 2000 to address such issues as poor sanitary conditions, lack of understanding regarding sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, and endemic chronic thyroid diseases (such as goiter). This project will continue through 2004.

"The health of this region is poor and as the only non-government organization operating here we have a large challenge to meet the health needs of the people in South Ossetia," said Liliana Veloso, country director for ADRA Georgia.

As part of the ongoing effort to improve health in the region, ADRA Georgia recently delivered first aid medicine and equipment to Tshkinvali nursing home, Tshkinvali state prison, and to 24 medical points located in South Ossetia.

"ADRA Georgia also tries to educate people about health issues. We have trained health care providers, held Healthy Lifestyle discussions at Tshkinvali State University, published health articles in the local newspaper, and formed volunteer groups within communities so they can begin to address their own health issues," Veloso continued.

In January of this year ADRA Georgia provided firewood and stoves to internally displaced persons in South Ossetia. The project helped 250 families withfirewood and provided 40 families with stoves during one of the worst winters in the region in the last 10 years.

ADRA is present in more than 120 countries providing individual and community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age or ethnicity.