Nigerian doctors and nurses to serve in Belize
They are professionals in their own country, but they will spend the next two years working in Belize as part of a technical assistance program. This morning fourteen Nigerian doctors, nurses and medical specialists arrived at the Philip S.W. Goldson International. They were escorted by Abdu Ado and Mathias I Dogo-Isonagie of the Nigeria High Commission in Jamaica and will be deployed around the country. The following interviews are courtesy of the Government Press Office.
Abdu Ado, Nigeria High Commission
“Most of them are having their jobs back in Nigeria, but this is a national assignment, they are called for national assignment. That is they leave their work there and assist in Nigerian foreign policy. That is, Nigeria’s assistance to friendly countries that is especially in the ACP, that is Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries.”
Dr. Jorge Polanco, Dep. Dir., Health Services
“We are aware that generally speaking there is a shortage of human resources and with the expansion of services right now in all districts, with the consolidation of Stann Creek as a regional hospital there is a need to improve, not only the quantity but the quality of the services.”
Marjorie Parks, Principal Nursing Officer
“We have always gotten very good service from the Nigerians. They have high standards of nursing and they know the language, so we don’t have any problem with the language barrier.”
Five of the fourteen professionals who arrived today are doctors and five are nurses. They will be sent to the Orange Walk and Stann Creek Hospitals and facilities in Belize City and Punta Gorda. A lecturer will also be attached to the Belize School of Nursing to fill in while several lecturers are on study leave. Two nurse anesthetists will also help with surgeries at the Orange Walk and Stann Creek regional health centers. Belize has benefited from the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Program since 1992 with volunteers assisting in fields such as medicine, engineering, the arts and education.
