KHMH hosts media and public open day
Today, a series of events focussing on health practices and the diseases affecting us as a people were held at hospitals and health centres countrywide. And while we couldn’t attend all the activities, this morning News 5’s Ann-Marie Williams went to check out what was happening at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting
World Health Day is not until April seventh, but the Ministry of Health saw it fitting to stage their World Health Day activities today. In Belize City, a media and public open day was combined with PAHO’s centennial launch. During opening ceremonies this morning, Minister of Health Jose Coye delivered the main address.
Jose Coye, Min. of Health
“We are gathered here today because at this time every year we celebrate World Health Day, that special day set aside to commemorate out achievements in health, in making this world a healthier place and enhancing the quality of all our lives. I say to you, a happy World Health Day to all. This year’s celebration of World Health Day is even more special since it will mark the one hundred year anniversary of the coming into being of the Pan American Health Organisation. And we in Belize, where PAHO and the World Health Organisation has been with us the past fifty years, are only too glad to say happy hundredth anniversary to our partners in the cause of equal quality health for all.”
PAHO’s acting representative to Belize, Dr. Reynaldo Holder, says the occasion is fitting to pay tribute to PAHO; a public health agency operating in the Americas for a century.
Dr. Reynaldo Holder, Ag. PAHO Rep. to Belize
“The year’s World Health Day theme: Move for Your Health, Energise Your life, emphasises the World Health movement commitment to fostering health life-styles. We invite you all, leaders of the health communities to come join us tomorrow in our hike, bike and fun run event to mark the importance of this theme. With this in mind and in the context of the commemoration of World Health Day, PAHO is proud to launch today the year-long celebration of its first centennial of the Pan American Health Organisation.”
Marjorie Parks, Deputy Dir., Health Services
“I am especially pleased today that this programme includes the recognition and the presentation of awards to our associates in the Ministry of Health, whose performance has been outstanding, unstinting and exemplary.”
There were a total of twenty-five exemplary workers of the Ministry of Health who received plaques today. Nine of them are nurses working in hospital across the country.
Janet Thomas has dedicated twenty-eight years of her life to the nursing profession. She’s now a Departmental Sister at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Janet Thomas, Departmental Sister
“I am happy and I just want to say thanks to whoever chose me.”
Margaret Bradley, Sr. Psychiatric Nurse
“It feels that you have achieved, and not only that you get this award, but your patients show you that you are doing well. Because you see them come in sick and go out functioning in the community to the best of their ability.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“How challenging a job is it? How often sometimes do you feel like giving up?”
Margaret Bradley
“More than once. It’s very, very challenging because at present we still don’t have the support of family members and that plays a key role to recovery for these patients.”
Augustina Elijio, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
“It feels good simply because you know you’ve tried hard. It’s a challenge, and most of all because there’s a love for it, then it feels quite good.”
Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.
Members of the public are reminded to take part in PAHO’s Hike, Bike and Fun Run starting at daybreak on Saturday at the Yarborough Green in Belize City.
