Rural health workers receive bikes

Today the ministry of health handed over twenty-five bicycles to the Belize District Community Nurses Aides. The donation is just one of many measures M.O.H. is undertaking to strengthen health programmes in rural areas of the country. The nurses say that the wheels are long overdue and they are grateful for the assistance.

Anna Gillett, Community Nurse, Burrel Boom

?Well we usually walk the distances within wherever we have to go. Sometimes we would catch a ride going wherever we would want to go and sometimes we would find it very difficult going into rough roads or the small picado roads. But we managed it and we walked within the distance. Sometimes we would have to use boots to go into some of these areas. So that?s the way how we used to manage it.?

Gloria Bood, Community Nurse, Sand Hill Village

?The benefit from this bike will be very great for me because I used to ride a long time ago and I stopped. What I do is take the bus or walk. I go to the schools to talk to children them most and what I would walk. So it would benefit me a lot. I can really get myself back into practice as I am very painy up and things like that after walking. So the riding will help me now.?

Vildo Marin, Minister of Health

?Our CNA, or Community Nursing Aides play a very vital role in the execution of primary health care. They are the ones who know the villagers better than anybody else. They are ones that the villagers call upon first whenever they have a health problem. These bicycles will help them to reach those people much quicker because sometimes they have to travel very far distances. So these bicycles will help them.?

Marin says similar donations were made to community nurses aides in Stann Creek, Corozal and Orange Walk. On Monday another donation of bicycles will be made in the Cayo District.