Call for Urgent Health Reforms After Tragic Death of Two-Year-Old on Water Taxi

The heartbreaking death of two-year-old Kaleel, who passed away while being transported by boat from San Pedro to Belize City for emergency medical care, has sparked outrage and renewed calls for urgent improvements in the country’s healthcare system.

Abner Bacab, a representative of Island Emergency Services, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and stressed that a thorough investigation is needed to determine what went wrong. He said that clear emergency protocols must be put in place to prevent such incidents from happening again.

“So saddened to know about the loss of a child’s life…for whatever reason the child was not taken in an airplane but rather by water taxi. We do not know the circumstances of what exactly happened, but a thorough investigation needs to be performed,” Bacab stated.

Bacab highlighted longstanding gaps in Belize’s healthcare services, particularly in island and rural communities where access to emergency transportation is limited. He called for the National Health Insurance (NHI) program to expand coverage to include emergency airlifts and ambulance services, arguing that Belizeans deserve the same level of critical care benefits offered in neighboring countries.

“Ambulance services should also be covered under these benefits for our Belizeans. In Mexico, the IMSS has its own hospitals and ambulances. Belize, we need to do better for our people,” he urged.

Bacab also pressed the Social Security Board (SSB) to play a greater role in emergency health coverage, saying Belizeans contribute weekly but are not receiving essential benefits that could save lives.

The toddler was first taken to a polyclinic on the island for medical treatment. Doctors there referred him to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) due to the severity of his condition. The family, however, alleges that the clinic declined to provide airlift services. This forced them to transport Kaleel by water taxi instead. Sadly, the child passed away before reaching the mainland.

News Five has reached out to Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard for comment.