Bus Run Cancellations Tough for Health Workers

Marvin Manzanero

During today’s Ask the Expert session, the Director of Health Services Doctor Marvin Manzanero also spoke on the bus situation. One viewer asked the panel if it was safe to travel on buses – he advised that persons should practice their preventative measures but noted that many buses have suspended their service. He says that it has created some challenges for commuters, particularly the health workers who travel from the west and north to Belize City. Doctor Manzanero noted that they are doing everything they can to make provisions for these workers who commute.

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“We have had the discussion. We actually didn’t indicate that bus runs were supposed to have been suspended. What we have been asking people is to always have the necessary personal precautions when they are on the bus. If you are ill you shouldn’t be travelling or going to work – I think everybody will understand that. If you are taking those necessary precautions inside the bus you should not be having any problem in that regard. The bus that stopped running from the north is another headache for us because our health staff – lab staff is primarily from the northern part of Belize. So, they will have to stay now in Belize and we have to now find lodging and we are finding hotels are closed. So, we now have to try to accommodate the staff that commutes to and from all the different areas. Not staff coming to Belize City but we have staff travelling to Orange Walk and Corozal and I think some runs from the west were cut off. So, some of the staff from Belize City had to leave by three p.m. today so it is starting to be a rather complicated situation for us because health staff travel all over to and from work.”