Caye Caulker Village Receives Long-awaited Health Center
A one and a half million dollar health center has been erected on Caye Caulker. Residents and visitors of the village will now have access to primary healthcare services on the island. Fifteen months ago, the Ministry of Health and Wellness broke ground for the construction of the health facility. And, on Monday, an inauguration ceremony was held on the steps of the newly constructed building, which will also double as a hurricane shelter. The Caribbean Development Bank (C.D.B.) provided the necessary funds for the development by way of a loan, while the Social Investment Fund (SIF) acted as the implementing agent. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
On August twenty-first, 2021, the Ministry of Health and Wellness broke ground for the construction of the Caye Caulker Health Center. Former Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat, spoke about the improved services that would be made available on the island through the health center.
File: August 21st 2021
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
“Our Government is committed to providing the best possible health care to all of our citizens. And, here in Caye Caulker there is a long standing need for a health center that the residents can come out and get the proper services they need for hypertension, diabetes, emergency services. We want to stop the necessity to have to transport patients to Belize City. So we are bringing the health care services to the community and the residents of Caye Caulker.”
Exactly fifteen months later, his successor, Kevin Bernard, spoke at an inaugural ceremony for the newly constructed Caye Caulker Health Center.
Kevin Bernard
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
“In August of last year, the Prime Minister along with my colleague, the former Minister of Health, Honorable Michel Chebat to do the actual ground breaking of this facility. Today, it is my privilege, as the now Minister of Health and Wellness to participate in the actual inauguration of this very much important facility.”
With a population of five thousand residents, and a constant influx of tourists to the island, this facility will make a difference in the lives of many, says Chairlady Seleny Villanueva- Pott, of the Caye Caulker Village Council.
Selena Villanueva-Pott
Selena Villanueva-Pott, Chairlady, Caye Caulker
“In August 2021 we convened on this said location with hope and joy to break ground on what would be our new and improved health center. Today, a few months later we reconvene, but with grateful hearts and thankful words as this project is a dream come through for Caye Caulker. Since 2017 we have been working alongside SIF to gather all the necessary data to make this a reality. Today we can say, six years later all our hard work and collaborative efforts paid off. Caye Caulker can now say that in the very near future we will be able to provide better health care services with adequate space, equipment and staffing, to not only our residents but visitors as well.”
Already, the Government of Belize has committed to expand the building to include living quarters for doctors and nurses.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“But MC I think I wanted to first reach out to you because you said we came here for the ground breaking. I fell short of asking which ground breaking, because as far as the Caye Caulker people concerned the ground breaking occurred more than one time, every time it was to start it didn’t start. Well in plan Belize this now government, when we break ground is because we making true with our promise.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
