KHMH sets up Neurosurgical Unit

But the upgrading of staff is not the only thing going on this week at the country’s tertiary medical institution. With assistance from veteran neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Lacin, the KHMH is putting the final touches on plans to expand one of its key services.

Dr. Robert Lacin, Neurosurgeon
?I?m here to help the hospital to set up a Neurosurgical Department. We have a full time neurosurgeon now in Belize, Dr. Laura and we?re going to have another one in September by the name of Dr. Cervantes and they are both excellent neurosurgeons. And unfortunately they don?t have all the equipment that they need and to start a neurosurgical department is really not very easy. I have done this before ten years ago in the United States. So I?m here this week to help them to set up a department where they can do most of neurosurgical procedures that can be done here.?

Anniesha Gill
?Now important is it for a country like Belize to have a neurosurgery unit??

Dr. Robert Lacin
?It is extremely important. You have a very high rate of death and injuries among young people from head injuries and those people really cannot be taken care of without a neurosurgeon.?

Anniesha Gill
?What are the basic things a person can do to protect their spine??

Dr. Robert Lacin
?Not to put yourself in danger; not to do stupid things essentially like diving into shallow water, or riding a motor cycle with a very high speed. It is important to wear helmet, cars obviously with a seat belt and airbags are very protective. When I came here the last time which was four years ago I believe that seat belts were not mandatory in this country. Now they are which is a big advancement. But there is more to it in this country. There are a lot of people who ride in the back of pickup trucks, a large number and suddenly a car accident causes a large number of young men to be injured or dead.?

Lacin says that in the coming weeks, the KHMH will be acquiring a CT machine which will greatly enhance the ability of doctors at the facility to diagnose head injuries more quickly and thereby improve treatment and rehabilitation. Dr. Lacin’s visit, which is being sponsored by the Rotary Club of Belize, ends on Friday.