Social Security Celebrates Anniversary with Gifts For Newborns
The Belize Social Security Board is celebrating forty years with a new twist. They are giving women who had a baby on their anniversary June first some special supplies. Today, S.S.B. representatives were at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to meet the moms. And so was News Five.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The Social Security Board today surprised five new moms with care packages. The gift bags were presented to the moms who gave birth at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital to coincide with SSB’s fortieth anniversary on June first.
Leanne Castillo
Leanne Castillo, Senior Communications Officer, S.S.B.
“This is our way of giving back to the mothers in some small way to celebrate with them their joyous occasion. We are happy to reach this milestone as we are sure the mothers are happy too to have their joyous new bundle. So, we really wanted to, in celebration of our anniversary, share that joy and share that celebration with these mothers; with members of our communities.”
Of the five babies celebrated today, three are girls and two boys. Nilsa Henry is a new mom who gave birth to daughter Aura just before twelve-thirty in the morning on June first. For Delvia Cunil, it’s her first daughter after five sons. This is Maureesha Willacey’s second child, baby Nylah Douglas.
Maureesha Willacey
Maureesha Willacey, Mother of Nylah Douglas
“I mi think it wah more hard but I just mi the thug it out until time and then when I reach yah was quick thing.”
Andrea Polanco
“What do you like about being a mom?”
Maureesha Willacey
“Everything. Sometimes it is stressful but you have to deal with it; it’s part of motherhood. It is good overall though.”
Andrea Polanco
“What are some of the things you are looking forward to doing with your baby as she grows up?”
Maureesha Willacey
“Well, my first baby we done like do arts together; color; play dough and so I look forward to doing the same things but with two of them now.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, today we have the Social Security here and they brought some care packages; talk to me about receiving this gift. Did you expect it?”
Maureesha Willacey
“No. We just hear about it this morning. It comes as a surprise fi all ah we. It feels nice to be appreciated.”
The S.S.B. gifted both moms and babies with some essential items to help them in their first few weeks.
Leanne Castillo
“We included items of course for the newborn, for the baby, items that they will need. But also we took into account and included some promotional items like the piggy banks because it is never too early to start saving for them and other items such as water bottles to stay hydrated. So, it is just little items we know they can use in their day to day as moms but also in their everyday lives.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
The S.S.B. says that up to this morning they had a total count of nine moms from across the country who gave birth in the past twenty-four hours.
