Security breech at K.H.M.H. threatens lives
In September, a gang of men intent on inflicting street justice on a patient, stormed through the doors of the K.H.M.H. armed with machetes and created quite a stir before they were detained. Three months later, history repeats itself. Police say two masked men armed with a handgun and a sawed off shotgun slipped past security and entered the hospital around two a.m. on Saturday and headed for the surgical ward. A police officer using the telephone near the ward heard the footsteps and was shocked to see the intruders brandishing their weapons. The officer took cover in one of the rooms, while hospital staff at the nurse’s station hid under the desk. Despite their firepower, the gun toting men decided to leave business unfinished and ran away the same way they came. Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Alvaro Rosado told News 5 today that they want armed policemen on the grounds and in the building on a regular basis.
Alvaro Rosado, CEO, K.H.M.H.
“Since the last incident, we did contact the police and we very strongly ask that they take care of the people who are in their custody. Previously, they were here, but the custodial care was lax. We’ve had cases where prisoners are remanded, or even people who are supposed to be remanded or charged were in the wards smoking marijuana and just acting as if they were outside, and they were supposed to be in custody. I must that after my contact with the police that has changed, they seem to be a bit more vigilant with the people who are in their charges.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Don’t you think the hospital has to step up it’s own level of security to allay people’s fears?”
Alvaro Rosado
“I’m not sure, if I think it should, yes I think we should. Do I think it’s the responsibility of the hospital, I don’t think so, because what we’re talking about is an extension of Belize City into the hospital.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“So who will do it?”
Alvaro Rosado
“Well, I think that on that the authorities will have to get together. Our position has been that the police has to be concerned with this.”
Rosado claims that resources at the hospital are severely strained and therefore the administration cannot afford to provide the obviously needed level of security.
Ann-Marie Williams
“Are you at all concerned that they might wait until a third incident happens and an innocent person is shot before they get security?”
Alvaro Rosado
“I’m not sure that I want to say that they will wait until a third incident occurs. But, I would say that I hope a third incident does not occur before we can identify the funds that K.H.M.H. needs. Right now, we are in dire straits, our security unit is under equipped, we’re trying to get radios, basic things like whistles for them. There’s no communication internally at night and we hope that we can at least supply them with the basic, maybe a baton, maybe a radio where they can radio for help and communicate with one another. When this incident occurred, there was no way for the security guard in the ward to contact the security guard in the other areas. Obviously that’s unacceptable for any kind of security situation.”
News 5 understands that the men who entered the hospital over the weekend were looking for a patient hospitalised for stab wounds sustained during a fight in Ladyville in late November.
