Belize Celebrates Nurses Week with Heartfelt Tributes

This week, a wave of gratitude and admiration is sweeping across Belize as the nation celebrates Nurses Week. Clinics, hospitals, and homes are honoring the dedicated men and women at the core of our healthcare system, including midwives who touch every Belizean life from the very start. Today, a special ceremony at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital honored over forty nurses for their invaluable work in keeping us healthy and alive. News Five’s Marion Ali was on the scene to capture the heartfelt tributes and filed this report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Today, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital dedicated an hour to honor over forty of its most outstanding nurses in a warm award ceremony. This event is part of the celebrations recognizing the invaluable contributions of healthcare professionals who tirelessly work in the crowded wards of the country’s busiest hospitals, clinics, and rural health outposts. CEO Chandra Nisbet-Cansino emphasized the importance of acknowledging these professionals, noting that such recognition serves as an incentive for their demanding and essential services.

 

            Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“It’s important for us every year to ensure that we recognize them and we thank them and that their voices are heard. It’s now competition among not only the world, but within Belize itself – have a lot of healthcare institutions opening that are now hiring nurses. So we want to ensure that we get the best of the best nurses that the institutions are producing now.”

 

Registered Nurse Uriel Cowo joined the KHMH in December and has already had an enlightening first four months on the job. Although he needs to complete at least one year to qualify for an award, his positive attitude and dedication suggest that his name will be called in due course. Cowo’s promising start hints at a bright future in healthcare.

 

                        Uriel Cowo

Uriel Cowo, Registered Nurse, K.H.M.H.

“It has its challenges, but that’s within a job, right? What you need to look at is the type of profession that you signed up to be in. So I signed up to be a nurse. What that is – what does that entail? It entails me embodying what we call altruism, giving myself to others. If you can’t put others before yourself, then maybe this isn’t the right profession. I think the awards are important because it gives you a sense of recognition that out there they’re seeing us, that our administration appreciates us, and just a little appreciation goes a long way because we come here to do a job that I believe is very difficult. Not everyone can do the type of work that we do.”

 

Renita Pop, President of the Belize Nurses Association, showered praise on the nation’s dedicated nurses, with a special nod to midwives. “Midwives are the backbone of our maternal and newborn care services,” Pop wrote. “From the first heartbeat to the first cry, you stand at the very beginning of every Belizean’s life journey.” Her sentiments were echoed by Nisbet-Cansino, who wholeheartedly supported Pop’s view, highlighting the crucial role midwives play in the health and well-being of mothers and newborns across Belize.

 

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

We have a fairly high rate of deliveries, especially here at Karl Heusner, so they are the backbone of delivery at the delivery department. We were in a very significant shortage, but again, there is the program that has – we have quite a few graduates. I think it was about 20 that were graduating and certainly we hope to get some of those midwives here to help us bridge that gap.”

 

The Belize Nurses’ Association is inviting the public to show some love for their favorite midwife or “mid-husband.” In an exciting twist, three lucky midwives will win a cash prize, generously donated by Dr. Gilberto Landero, Dr. Veronica Rosado, and Renita Pop, the association’s president. This initiative aims to highlight the invaluable contributions of midwives to maternal and newborn care in Belize. Marion Ali for News Five.

Belize’s Nursing Shortage: A Crisis Long Before COVID

Long before the COVID pandemic swept the globe, hospitals and clinics were grappling with a severe shortage of nurses. This issue continues to plague the nursing field in Belize, driven by an aging population, increasing burnout, and more attractive incentives in developed countries. Despite these challenges, Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, C.E.O. of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (K.H.M.H.), assures that the hospital is doing everything possible to retain its dedicated nursing staff.

 

               Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“There’s a global crisis; however, we now have programs within the country – nursing programs that are really helping us now to build back up our staff. The Ministry of Health and Wellness offers scholarships, and so that offers a lot of opportunities for nurses to study. And so, I think slowly but surely, we’re creeping back up to where we want to – not there yet, but getting there.”

 

Reporter

“Do you find that when they come here, they’re inclined to stay?”

 

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

“For the most part, yes. Karl Heusner [Memorial Hospital] is the place to come for experience. Here you will get a little of everything, and then you have nurses that you know, further specialize or retire, et cetera, but the best experience that you can get as a nurse is to come to Karl Heusner.”

Cabinet Clears $50 Million in Hospital Debt, Ensures No Patient is Denied Care

Earlier this year, the Cabinet approved a massive write-off of over $50 million in unpaid hospital bills at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. These debts had accumulated over the years, mostly from patients who had either moved away or passed away. Despite this financial relief, there have been complaints about stricter enforcement of payment for medical tests. Today, Nisbet-Cansino addressed these concerns, assuring the public that no patient in need of a test will be denied care due to lack of upfront payment.

 

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H.

“At no point is care refused at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital if you cannot pay. Yes, we do try to collect on some of the bills, but as long as you come, especially through the Emergency Department, or if you are on the unit and you need any kind of – whatever test we offer here, be it lab, radiology, that is provided to you without prepayment. Elective surgeries require prepayment, but not any other care that happens at the K.H.M.H. The Cabinet approved a write-off. That was in excess of $30 million, so we are now in the process of going through that, well, engaging the persons who that applies to and reaching out to them. So it’s a lengthy process because it dates all the way back to probably the nineties. So that is what we are doing now.”

 

Marion Ali

“And what system do you have in place to ensure that it doesn’t recur – you don’t build another arrears bill that reaches another few million dollars in the next few years?”

 

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

“It’s very challenging because Karl Heusner [Memorial Hospital] is the only tertiary hospital in Belize. We treat a lot of less fortunate persons. People can’t afford the private sector, so we cannot refuse treatment to anyone. So we will probably always be in a deficit because persons that need care access it care and the challenges is collecting.”

Minors May Be Arrested in SOE as Gang Violence Escalates

Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado has indicated that minors may not be exempt from a possible 6-month State of Emergency (SOE) aimed at restoring public safety. “We will do what we need to do, and as law enforcement officers, our job is public safety, and whatever needs to be done to maintain the safety on the grounds, we will do it.” That is what he said when he was asked if minors will be arrested under the SOE.

According to the Commissioner, the situation between rival groups, primarily the PIV, BLC and their affiliates, has reached a dangerous tipping point. “Presently, from our assessment, we have made it’s only the PIV, BLC and its affiliates that are going after one another. And it is at a critical stage right now that drastic measures must be taken.”

Authorities have already increased patrols, deployed intelligence officers and expanded investigative teams. “We have also assigned or increased the investigative team in order to identify and disrupt this network,” Dr. Rosado said.

The police commissioner said discussions are underway with the National Security Council about implementing a minimum of 6-month State of Emergency, which he believes is necessary given the current critical situation. A decision is expected later today.

Will A 6-Month SOE be Implemented?

Newly appointed Commissioner of Police Dr Richard Rosado has confirmed that discussions are underway with the National Security Council regarding the possible implementation of a state of emergency (SOE).

“With the death of Brandon Baptist, the security threat was high, and with the shooting of Rojas, it has now escalated to a critical level,” Dr. Rosado told reporters this afternoon. He added, “Presently we are discussing with the National Security Council to see if we will implement a state of emergency, but I do believe that at the critical state it is right now, there’s a need for it.”

The commissioner said he is “lobbying” for the SOE to be enforced for “6 months at the very least.”

As previously reported, over 60 alleged gang members are currently in police custody following the increase of gang-related activities, which Rosado described as a “network” requiring “extensive investigation and interview of all the players them, hence the reason they were detained.”

Dr. Rosado assured the public that the department is “using all available resources, deploying all available resources, to ensure that we restore peace, safety and normalcy to the street.” He added, “I am not perturbed, I am not disturbed, and I am not overwhelmed by what’s happening; we will do what we need to do.”

A decision from the council is expected later today.

Mexican Power Supply Failure Causes Nationwide Outage in Belize

Belizeans across the country were unexpectedly left in the dark late Monday night after a sudden power outage struck just before midnight. The outage, which began around 11:50 p.m. was caused by a generation emergency in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula that forced Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) to cut its electricity supply to Belize.

Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) says it quickly launched emergency restoration efforts, relying on in-country power generation to bring electricity back online. BEL explained that the San Pedro and upgraded Westlake gas turbines were activated as part of the company’s coordinated response.

By 12:28 a.m., residents in the Northern and Western regions and parts of the Belize District had power restored. The entire country was reconnected to the grid by 12:47 a.m.

Peace Corps Trainees Arrive in Belize for Youth Empowerment Project

A new group of 23 Peace Corps trainees arrived in Belize today to begin 27 months of service under the Youth Empowered by Sports (YES) Project, a national initiative aimed at empowering Belizean youth through education, mentorship, and physical activity.

The trainees’ arrival marks a continued commitment by Peace Corps Belize to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports & Diaspora Relations in promoting youth development. They will join two active YES volunteer cohorts already serving in communities across the country.

Over the next eleven weeks, the trainees will undergo intensive Pre-Service Training. The program includes instruction on Peace Corps’ development philosophy, the goals of the YES Project, technical skills training, health and safety preparation, and immersive cultural and language education in Kriol or Spanish.

The trainees will be sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers on July 18, 2025. Once sworn in, they will support efforts in two key sectors: Youth Development and Education. Volunteers in these areas work closely with community leaders to help young people build life skills, promote healthy lifestyles, and unlock opportunities for personal and academic growth.

The Peace Corps has a long-standing history in Belize and around the world. Since 1961, more than 240,000 Volunteers have served in 144 countries.

India Launches Strikes on Pakistan, Citing Retaliation for Kashmir Attack

India says it has launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir linked to terrorist activity. The strikes follow a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month, which severely worsened India-Pakistan relations, the BBC reported.

In an official statement, the Indian government said the operation focused on “terrorist infrastructure” used to plan and direct attacks against India. Officials said the strikes were “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” avoiding Pakistani military installations.

Pakistan’s military, meanwhile, confirmed three locations were hit and is assessing the situation. The region remains tense amid the long-running dispute over Kashmir, which both nations claim in full.

‘Suspicious’ Motorcyclists to Be Stopped and Searched

The Belize Police Department is intensifying efforts to monitor and intercept individuals using motorcycles to commit violent crimes. While a State of Emergency will not be declared at this time, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero confirmed that additional measures are being taken to prevent further violence, including monitoring the use of motorcycles in criminal activities.”

“We have seen an increase in the use of motorcycles to commit these murders. So, we are targeting individuals on motorcycles, but we know there are a number of motorcycles in the city, so as soon as we identify suspicious persons, they are followed and searched,” ACP Romero stated.

He assured the public that the police are not acting indiscriminately: “We know the key players, so once we see them on motorcycles then we need to target them.”

Romero confirmed that over sixty alleged gang members have been detained following the recent murders in the last 48 hours. The detained individuals are currently being held for questioning.

60 Gang Members Detained Following Increase in Gun Violence

A routine school drop-off turned into tragedy this morning when 31-year-old Kadeem Orosco was shot and killed near his home in what police believe is a gang-related murder. Information from police indicates that Orozco was walking alone on Ebony Street when he was targeted by an unidentified gunman who opened fire.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, investigators have received information that Orosco’s murder is connected to the ongoing gang feud. Orosco had just walked his seven-year-old daughter to St Martin’s School when he was killed. When asked about a possible connection between Orosco’s murder and the two other killings within the last 24 hours, ACP Romero responded, “I cannot say if it is connected; however, we have several leads we are following up and several persons in custody in regard to these recent murders.”

Despite police ramping up anti-gang operations and detaining around sixty gang members, Orosco’s killing marks the third murder in Belize City in less than 48 hours. This has raised fears about public safety and escalating gang violence. Romero added that police “are conducting several operations in the Belize district, and we continue with our works on the ground.” Surveillance footage from a nearby camera is being reviewed for leads regarding Ororsco’s murder.

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