The Government of Belize has officially signed a BZ$3.2 million (US$1.63 million) consultancy contract with Dar Al Omran International Engineering Consulting Company (DAO) for the design and construction supervision of a new 150-bed Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Belmopan.
The contract was signed by Financial Secretary Joseph Waight on behalf of the Government of Belize, while Managing Director Yacoub Shubeilat signed on behalf of DAO. The consultancy will span four and a half years, or 55 months, during which DAO will oversee key aspects of the project, from architectural design to on-site supervision and quality assurance.
The government says that the new tertiary hospital is being developed as part of Belize’s 2023-2026 Medium Term Strategy, which aims to strengthen social protection systems and improve healthcare access for vulnerable communities. The hospital will be built with financing from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and government counterpart funding.
DAO’s responsibilities under the contract include:
Architectural and Engineering Design: Development of a comprehensive design for a 150-bed hospital complex.
Supervision of Construction: Overseeing the layout, construction, and landscaping of the hospital.
Quality Assurance: Ensuring that all design and construction activities adhere to standards required by the Government of Belize and the Saudi Fund for Development.
The design phase will take approximately 9 months, with construction expected to last 34 months. The project also includes a 12-month defects liability period to address any construction-related issues.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health and Wellness finally got a CT scanner for the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Before March twentieth, patients needing CT scans had to pay high prices at private facilities across the country. Unfortunately, after just eight months of use, the K.H.M.H. Authority announced today that the expensive machine is now out of service. The management explained that a condensation issue caused the hardware components to stop communicating, and a small part needs to be replaced. The root cause has been fixed, and a specialized technician is on the way to Belize to oversee the repairs and get the machine back up and running. In the meantime, arrangements have been made with nearby facilities to ensure patients can still get their CT scans. The hospital says that replacing the part and performing routine maintenance will keep the CT scanner reliable and efficient, benefiting all Belizeans. The machine breaking down over the weekend was a major inconvenience for several patients, especially the teenagers injured in the road accident near Carmelita Village on Friday evening.
Belize is still free from the New World Screwworm, but for how long? Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai has been holding weekly meetings with his technical teams to stay updated on the rising cases of New World Screwworms in the region. Today, one of these meetings took place in Yo Creek Village. After the meeting, we caught up with Minister Mai and BAHA’s Managing Director, Zoe Robinson-Zetina, for the latest update. In short, new cases are popping up in neighboring countries, and experts think it’s only a matter of time before Belize sees its first case. Meanwhile, strict surveillance measures are being put in place. News Five’s Paul Lopez has the story.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
A single case of the New World Screwworm in Mexico recently prompted the United States to ban cattle imports. Now, cases are cropping up in larger numbers in neighboring Honduras and Guatemala. During a technical meeting in Orange Walk, BAHA’s Managing Director, Zoe Robinson-Zetina, discussed the issue with Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai.
Zoe Robinson-Zetina
Zoe Robinson-Zetina, Managing Director, BAHA
“First I want to confirm that we do not have screwworms in Belize and we are going through active surveillance to ensure we know the health status of our country. In our surrounding countries, we pay special attention to Guatemala, because they are the closest to us. And we know that Guatemala right now is reporting twenty-six cases and the closest case to us is in the far western area of Peten. And in that region they have only on reported case. The next closest to us is Honduras and Honduras is reporting just over seventy cases. And we believe that Honduras has been maintain or controlling the spread in that country.”
When the New World Screwworm burrows into an animal’s flesh, it can cause serious, often fatal damage. Studies show that the rise in reported cases is largely due to the illegal movement of cattle. Interestingly, Belize doesn’t import animals, which adds a unique twist to the situation.
Jose Abelardo Mai
Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture
“There are about five important thing that you do to keep screw worm out or suppressed. The first one is education and awareness. Are we doing it? Yes. Are we doing it to the right people? Yes. Those that live on the periphery and the borders to the country of Guatemala. The second one is control point. Do not move animals form infected areas or do not move animals if you suspect it is. The third is treat wounds. Are we treating the wounds, yes. We are telling the farmers now you cannot have animals wounded on the farm then treat it. If there are no wounds then the fly cannot bear eggs. If the cannot bear an egg it dies. The fourth one is report all cases fast. And the last is the dispersal of sterile flies.”
The New World Screwworm poses the greatest threat to the local cattle industry, which is now valued at one hundred million dollars, according to Minister Mai. The risk of Mexico and Guatemala banning the import of Belize’s cattle is real. Minister Mai recently returned from a working trip to Mexico.
Jose Abelardo Mai
“As a matter of fact the Mexicans have been stopped from exporting cattle to the U.S. this is a serious matter. The U.S.D.A has banned Mexico from exporting cattle into the U.S.A for one screw worm in southern part of Mexico. So this is how serious they look at their cattle industry and the Mexican associations that represent eight hundred thousand cattle farmers wrote to their ministry of agriculture asking him to ban us and I said to them, we are the only country that has a program in place. The ministry of agriculture is a screwworm veteran. He knows what it is. So we quickly moved, as a matter of fact, the resources that government has put towards screwworm control right now is more than we get from the region. This is how serious the government is looking at this.”
Regarding the measures BAHA has put in place along the border, Managing Director Zetina mentioned that they’ve ramped up surveillance at both official and unofficial border points.
Zoe Robinson-Zetina
“We are doing active surveillance, and we are stremghtening our border points, both official and unofficial. We know it is no secret that we have agriculture goods going through Jalacte and Bullet Tree. What is good for Belize is that we are not importing animals in Belize. It is exportation that we do. But we are strnething those two check points for BAHA. We are manning them twenty-four hours to ensure there are no animals coming into this country. And also, for any vehicles that are passing through those points. To ensure that they are free and clear of any material that can transport the pest.”
Paul Lopez
“Can BAHA monitor pastures that have been cleared illegally by Guatemalans that have incurred on Belizean lands?”
Zoe Robinson-Zetina
“As long as that property is on Belizean terrorist then BAHA has jurisdiction to do surveillance and we are doing that at this time.”
The Ministry of Agriculture has already drafted an S.I. to quarantine a particular area in Belize wherever the New World Screwworm is detected. And, the experts believe that it is only a matter of time before Belize reports its first case.
Jose Abelardo Mai
“The worst case scenario is we have a case in Toledo. Plan, block off Toledo, control points in place which we have already, we have the S.I. ready, we have everything ready, block of Toledo, put the control in place. Twenty-four hours and work that area backwards to the border. Pump the area, saturate the area with sterile flies.”
Paul Lopez
“What is your response to the notion that it is an inevitable.”
Zoe Robinson-Zetina
“It is more than likely true. It is spreading so rapidly in Central America that we believe yes ti will be introduced in Belize. Like I said, it is people who are moving it. But people can move it through cattle, but they can also be brining their pet, dogs, pet cats, but it can come on people themselves as well.”
The National AIDS Commission celebrated World AIDS Day today in Belize City. Although the official date is December 1st, they held the event today since the first falls on a Sunday. This year’s theme is “Take the Rights Path.” We caught up with Enrique Romero, the Executive Director, to discuss some of their successes and the barriers that still exist in accessing services.
Enrique Romero
Enrique Romero, Executive Director, National Aids Commission
“World Aids Day is observed in December first every year and this year falls on a Sunday. So, we decided to observe it this year Friday under the theme “Take the Rights Path”, which focuses on human rights as a strategy, or as the need to make a significant dent on the HIV response. The Government of Belize has been providing medication free of cost now. Other commodities include condoms, lubricants and so forth. So, to end the HIV response will require strategies and innovative interventions that go beyond the biomedical approach. Evidence and data have shown that one of the key strategies to ending the epidemic is through a rights-based approach. In order to end aids, we need to eliminate all the barriers that prohibit persons from accessing services. In my presentation earlier I spoke about young men being affected by HIV and getting young men to access HIV services. Those are the things we need to ensure. In tandem with that we need to ensure we remove the barriers. For example, one of the critical barriers is the fact that young people consent to have sex at the age of sixteen, but they cannot access health service until they are eighteen. So that disparity creates a huge barrier.”
On Sunday, the Mexican government announced that the U.S. has hit the pause button on importing Mexican cattle. This decision came after a case of New World screwworm was found in the lakeside town of Catazaja, located in southern Chiapas. On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shared that Mexico’s top vet had alerted them about a screwworm found in a cow at a checkpoint near the Guatemala border. These pesky maggots sneak in through open wounds and feast on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals, including humans. The USDA cautioned that these infestations can be tricky to spot initially but can show up as growing wounds, creamy larvae, and signs of discomfort. So, what does this mean for Belize and its cattle industry? Earlier today, we had a chat with Fermin Blanco, the country rep for OIRSA in Belize, to get the scoop.
On the phone: Fermin Blanco, Country Representative, OIRSA
“The detection of that screwworm fly in Mexico has put everybody on alert because of damages that it causes, but that ban that the US puts on Mexico, that stays between both countries. In our case, we export to Mexico. Belize is still free of screwworm, so our protocols for exportation remains the same until there is a detection in Belize then the whole protocol will change and they will add in more restrictions. Since CENASICA knew of the detection in Guatemala, they have heightened their protocols, they have increased their inspections and sanitation and everything that it’s kind of difficult for export from Guatemala to Mexico, but because Guatemala has reported officially the presence of the screwworm. Belize has not, up to now, we are still free. In the region, the OIRSA region, El Salvador and Belize are still free, so our protocols for export to Mexico remains the same, unless there is a detection which we don’t have at the moment.”
Isani Cayetano
“What changes in respect of the protocols should there be a detection in Belize?”
Fermin Blanco
“CENASICA has indicated that they might heighten sanitary measures which will include each animal being inspected and has to be certified free of any wound, any ticks, any flies that can attract the flies. Plus, they’ll have to spray the animals with insecticides, including an ivermectin injection to guarantee that the fly does not travel with the animals. That protocol is not in place for Belize. That protocol has been placed for animals in Guatemala that’s coming in from that area to Mexico.”
Belize is staying on high alert with preventative measures in place, but Blanco told News Five that keeping screwworm at bay needs teamwork from everyone in the cattle industry, including the Belize Livestock Producers Association. He pointed out that the spread of this pesky parasitic fly is linked to the illegal movement of cattle across the region.
On the phone: Fermin Blanco, Country Representative, OIRSA
“It is a joint effort that the organization is doing with BAHA. It’s a team effort, it is the Ministry of Agriculture, it’s BAHA, it’s IICA, it’s OIRSA, it’s the Belize Livestock Producers Association. Everybody has to come on board to prevent the entrance of this pest into Belize. So it’s not a one entity thing, it’s a combined effort and our bet here is to prevent as much as possible the entrance of this fly. What happened is that this fly moves along with the illegal movement of cattle in Central America and Belize is not a route for those animals. It travels from Nicaragua, to Honduras, to Guatemala, to Mexico. So that has been the pattern of the fly where it has been detected. So, for us here, we just have to strengthen the securities at the border points and the unofficial border points so as to prevent as much as possible the entrance of this pest into Belize. So we are working hand in hand with BAHA, with IICA, and the Ministry of Agriculture, like I said.”
Today, the United Nations Population Fund donated several boxes of reproductive health supplies to the Ministry of Health. The handover ceremony took place this morning at the National Vaccine Storage Facility in Belmopan. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene to find out how this donation will help bolster Belize’s support in reproductive health.
Britney Gordon. Reporting
Earlier this year, Belize launched the ‘Leave No One Behind: The Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy Project’ to tackle the high rates of teen pregnancies by promoting the use of contraceptives. Today, as part of this initiative, the United Nations Population Fund donated a range of contraceptive methods to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. U.N.F.P.A. Program Officer Mackeva Neal was present to highlight the importance of this contribution.
Mackeva Neal
Mackeva Neal, Program Officer, U.N.F.P.A.
“What is so unique about this project is that for every year that the project is being implemented, there is a component that speaks specifically to the procurement of much needed SRH commodities. So today is the outcome of year one. Of that project component. So we are very excited to be able to present to the Ministry of Health this as well as to strengthen the partnership. I would say their mandate is perfectly aligned with that, with U.N.F.P.A. in ensuring that there is z maternal death, there is unmet need for family planning and to strengthen SRH services and commodities as well.”
The donation includes a variety of sexual reproductive health supplies like contraceptive pills, condoms, and IUDs. These will be distributed nationwide, with a focus on Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo Districts. Dr. Natalia Beer, the Maternal and Child Health Technical Advisor in the Ministry of Health, shared more insights on the Ministry’s collaboration with UNFPA.
Natalia Beer
Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal & Child Health Technical Advisor, MOHW
“These products having them accessible at all health facilities help us to reduce maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. And we also have in place the postpartum contraception. So every female that assists to hospitals for delivery, and they receive counseling and if they accept, they walk out with a contraceptive method. And we prefer to encourage women to use lung acting reversible contraceptives, because it takes a longer time. Compare, let’s say, let’s say the pill. Between the pins and the implant, we promote more the implant. Getting the implant, you can retrieve it or remove it after three years. Whereas the pins is daily and require a little bit more effort.”
The UNFPA also supported Belize’s healthcare workers by organizing a workshop focused on managing reproductive care supplies. This workshop, led by a consultant from Kenya, aims to address some of the key concerns of the Ministry and UNFPA.
Mackeva Neal
“One of those that came out very strongly from our engagement with the ministry was that there tends to be stockouts of Communities SRH commodities to be specific in certain parts of the country what we did, we came up to the decision that it would be beneficial for the country with the Ministry of Health as a partner to partner with U.N.F.P.A. to host a two-day training that looks at the Reproductive Health Commodity Strategies training. This is a countrywide training that includes persons from the different regions, from the four regions who has a responsibility for ensuring that their SRH, essential SRH commodities in their regional offices for distribution and accessibility to patients, patrons, clients, et cetera.”
The United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, today handed over “contraceptive methods and also equipment for the insertion and removal of intrauterine devices (IUDs)” to the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
UNFPA Program Officer, Mackeva Westby Neal, told News Five, “Today, we are very excited to be presenting to the Ministry of Health and Wellness a donation within the framework of our ongoing project, The Leave No One Behind Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy Project.” She explained that the regional project spans three years, with each year incorporating a component specifically aimed at procuring essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) commodities. “Today is the outcome of year one of that project component. We are very excited to present this to the Ministry of Health as well as to strengthen the partnership,” she said. Westby Neal said this aligns with UNFPA’s mandate with that of the Ministry, which seeks to ensure zero maternal deaths, address unmet needs for family planning, and bolster SRH services and access to necessary commodities.
The donation includes a range of SRH items such as implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), condoms, and instruments for vaginal health. Westby Neal noted that the Ministry would manage the distribution of these supplies across the country. “For this project, we are targeting three districts: Belize, Stann Creek, and Toledo. The distribution plan is integrated to serve these areas,” she explained.
Dr. Natalia Beer, Technical Advisor for Maternal and Child Health, told News Five, “We have injectables, pills, condoms—both male and female—and intrauterine devices. We are also getting implants; they’ve already been paid for and should arrive by next month,” she explained. According to her, implants and injectables are the most popular methods among users.
Dr. Beer also mentioned the availability of permanent contraceptive options. “We have definitive contraceptive methods, like tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men, which are surgical procedures typically chosen after a woman has satisfied parity,” she noted.
When addressing the role of contraceptives in reducing adolescent pregnancies, Dr. Beer emphasised their accessibility at all health facilities. “These products help reduce maternal mortality, teenage pregnancy, and unplanned pregnancies. We also have postpartum contraception, where every woman who delivers in a hospital receives counselling and, if they agree, leaves with a contraceptive method,” she said.
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as implants, are promoted over daily options like pills due to their convenience and efficacy.
On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Valerie Woods shared the difficult news that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. This announcement comes as the K.H.M.H Oncology Unit reports a rise in breast and colon cancer cases. When we spoke with Speaker Woods at an event in Belize City today, she acknowledged this increase. She mentioned that she is in the early stages of treatment and hopes her story will inspire other women. Woods also noted that her annual checkup last year showed no signs of cancer.
Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives
“I do my annual checks, which I encourage all women to do. Last year I was clear. I was due this October. Through self-examine I realized something was a bit off then I was due and that is when it was confirmed. So, I felt it was necessary to make the statement at the end of the session, because I always think it is important to control your own narrative. I think it is important for not only women, but the Belizean public to know that it can happen to anyone of us at anytime. At the last house meeting I quoted Doctor Yacab, the Oncologist for Belize at KHMH where he gave some startling statistics. I don’t know if people honed into that. But, it is very startling and he made the point that he is concerned that our women and girls are not doing their annual checks. So I do hope it encourages our women to do their self-examines but to get their annual checks and maybe it helps a little bit to destigmatize cancer. We need to talk about it, raise awareness about it and we need to know that it is a community of support. The Belize cancer society and many others have been doing and excellent job, I add my voice to that.”
November fourteenth marks World Diabetes Day, a time when people come together to share information and resources about diabetes. In our region, non-communicable diseases like diabetes remain a leading cause of death each year. To help Belizeans lead healthier lives, the Belize Diabetes Association hosted its annual World Diabetes Health Fair, offering free services to the public. Earlier today, News Five’s Britney Gordon dropped by to get the scoop.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
In 2023, an average of three people were diagnosed with diabetes every day, according to the Ministry of Health. Even more alarming, every other day, someone loses their life to diabetes or its complications. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Diabetes is treatable and manageable. Today, at the World Diabetes Day Health Fair, health organizations are stepping up to help control diabetes diagnoses in Belize.
Alain Gonzalez
Dr. Alain Gonzalez, Belize City Lion’s Club
“So today we are having a health fair. And we are trying to bring awareness to the public, because, I mean, prevention is always better than cure. And so, we have different organizations out here today. We have Red Cross with us, we have Kidney Association with us. We have the Coast Guards are also doing some testing. We have Cancer Society you have the Belize City Lion’s Club as well. And of course this has been sponsored or organized by the Belize Diabetes Association.”
The fair was held at Constitution Park in Belize City, bringing together several associations to assist with testing. Doctor Alaine Gonzalez, of the Belize City Lion’s Club, highlighted some of the services offered.
Dr. Alain Gonzalez
“We’re doing different types of testing today. Of course, we’re doing a sugar test or glucose test. We’re doing a pressure testing, you know, hypertension. We’re doing as well a COVID 19 testing. We’re doing HIV testing, and of course we’re giving health information about these different illnesses. About diabetes, about hypertension, about kidney disease, about circulation. So you can get a wealth of information if you come out to this testing today.”
The Belize Coast Guard was also at the event, sharing valuable information about the health services they offer at their compound.
Brian Bardales
Brian Bardales, Medical Officer, Belize Coast Guard
“Basically blood pressure blood pressure, glucose check, enlighten them about what we do. Have a patient come in complain about certain sickness, we would remedy that if we can. If not, we would forward them to the BDF camp for further assistance.”
Medical Officer, Brian Bardales explains that anyone feeling unwell can stop by for a check-up.
Brian Bardales
“If we’re at camp and the individual feels sick or something like that, if they don’t want to go at the outpost at KHMH, so they can go into camp, and once we can help them we help them.”
Diabetes is a serious condition that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, amputations, and even death if not managed properly. However, a diabetes diagnosis isn’t a death sentence. Dr. Gonzalez explains that with a commitment to healthier eating and taking medications as prescribed, diabetics can live long, fulfilling lives.
Dr. Alain Gonzalez
“These are diseases that can be prevented with just lifestyle changes. I mean, if we exercise more, if we change our diet, we If we consume more water, if we’re conscious about living a healthier lifestyle, then we can prevent many of these diseases, diseases.”
