B.D.F. receives medical donation from 7th. Day Adventists

The Belize Defence Force is charged with defending the country’s territorial integrity but today cameraman Rick Romero and I discovered that the men and women in green are also playing a vital role in the nation’s health care.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Fifty-five year old papaya farmer Jose Antonio Soto was working in his Corozal field when he was bitten by a tiny fly. The pest left a small red dot on his lower left leg but Soto thought nothing more of it. However, the area started to swell and despite the use of home remedies, his condition worsened. When he finally made it to a doctor, Soto was diagnosed with a skin disease called Leishminianis or what is locally referred to as a bay sore.

Sgt. Sypreano Smith, Administrator, Force Hospital, B.D.F.
?It is not an infection; it is a parasite that just eats away. In many cases, I do believe there are documented cases where people have lost nose, ears and a severe part of the face.?

In Belize, the condition is regularly contracted by soldiers, police officers, farmers and unsuspecting civilians. Because not much is known about the condition, it is often misdiagnosed.

There is only one medical facility that specializes in the treatment of such cases: the Belize Defence Force Hospital at Price Barracks in Ladyville.

Sgt. Sypreano Smith, Administrator, Force Hospital, B.D.F.
?This patient present condition is actually good. We have seen far worst stages of Leishminianis and that is very good. That is really small compare to what we have seen in the past.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?And it all starts from a single fly bite??

Sgt. Smith
?From a single fly bite, and over a period of time it just spreads. I must note that the parasite does not live in the wound itself it lives on the border. It is treated, depending on what they prescribe. Intravenous with Pentostam injection form and we do have p-ointment, depending on how small it is. P-ointment is an ointment that is mixed and is also used to treat this condition. There are other medications that can be used to treat it. But if they know what it is, because a lot of times it is diagnosed. It is a disorder that can be misdiagnosed regularly.?

So far this year, the medical facility has taken care of nineteen patients with similar wounds.

Sgt. Smith
?Our expert in this is Dr. Peter Craig, who is no longer with us officially, but still see people generously and refer them back here where the treatment is free.?

The Force?s hospital keeps a low profile but it is one of the busiest medical facilities in the country. The institution provides services to military personnel and is available to provide primary emergency care to the over six thousand civilians living in the nearby villages of Ladyville and Lord?s Bank.

Capt. Elfryn Reyes, Doctor, Force Hospital, B.D.F.
?We handle outpatient for the Belize Defence Force, civilians in the surrounding neighbourhood and emergencies. I would say minor surgical emergencies.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?For example??

Capt. Elfryn Reyes
?Minor cut wounds by machetes or stab wounds. We stabilize the patients here and then we refer them to the K.H.M.H.?

In the past seven months the force hospital has handled two thousand such cases. The majority of those cases have been road traffic accidents.

To assist in their efforts, today the hospital received a donation from the Belize Conference of Seventh Day Adventist. According to Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, the twelve thousand dollars worth of medical supplies and equipment will be a boost to the level of care that is provided.

Brigadier General Lloyd Gillett, Commander, B.D.F.
?Every year the B.D.F. provides service to the residents of Ladyville as part of a good neighbour programme. We pledge to utilize the medicines that we? been given today to provide support to the soldiers of the Belize Defence Force and members of the Ladyville community.?

President of Belize Conference Seventh day Adventist Doctor Ernald Scott says the donation is a gift from a team of medical professionals who recently provided service at the Force Hospital.

Dr. Ernald Scott, President, Bze. Conf. 7th Day Adventist
?So these twenty-nine doctors and nurses that were here in this compound, they were so happy and so thankful for all the accommodations that they have got. As a matter of fact they said that they have never felt as secure as before, and as a response and gratitude they decided to share this with the Belize Defence Force.?

Nesamony Ranju Prakasam, Dr, Adventist Dev/Disaster Relief Agency
?We want to help many more people. Because we know that our country is beautiful. Land of Belize is very beautiful, but we want a healthy and happy nation.?

The Force Hospital has a staff of thirty that includes four doctors on call twenty-four hours a day.

The Adventist Development and Disaster Relief Agency has also made donations to other medical facilities and clinics across the country. Service provided at the Force Hospital is free of cost.