Hospital Construction Stalls as Healthcare Crisis Grows

The death of two-year-old Kaleel Nah continues to raise serious questions about healthcare services on Ambergris Caye. As we reported, Nah’s condition continued to worsen after visiting two separate medical facilities on the island. Doctors eventually recommended that the mother catch a water taxi and take the child to receive medical attention in Belize City. Unfortunately, baby Kaleel died on the boat, enroute to the mainland. Today, News Five visited the island and spoke with several residents to get their take on healthcare services on the island and their recommendations for improvements. We also noted that while construction is underway for the San Pedro General Hospital, today work was at a standstill with no one in sight on the grounds.

 

Voice of: San Pedro Resident #1

“To be honest, I know it is a very sad story but we need a lot of improvement on what is health here in the island. One of the biggest concern is the polyclinic and how they perform. I think the should not let that child go out, especially knowing the situation of their parent, they cannot afford a flight, so that would happen.”

 

Paul Lopez

“They are construction a general hospital, do you think that will help?”

 

Voice of: San Pedro Resident #2

“I will like to say it will help, but it also depends on the minister, if he will improve the system. Because the can build a big hospital but if they don’t care about the health systems, bring xrays or things.”

 

Voice of: San Pedro Resident #3

“When they have an emergency, have an airplane to take out a child or anybody that has some kind of emergency let them go reach fast to the city.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So you think this child should have been placed on a plane?”

 

Voice of San Pedro Resident #3

“Yes, he was supposed to be on a plane.”

Voice of: San Pedro Resident #4

“That is something that happened to me last year in October. I went four times and after five days the sent me to Belize City to the hospital and in Belize the doctor told me that I should have gone before that day. I told them I went four times to the polyclinic and they never told me what was going on.”