Popular Pediatrician Fighting for His Life; Dr. Eck Hospitalized with COVID

Family, friends and medical professionals are at this time praying and hoping for pediatrician, Dr. Cecilio Eck, who is tonight critically ill with COVID. The pediatrician’s illness is a massive blow to the profession and the many little patients he treated over the years. Internist Dr. Fernando Cuellar  spoke to us today about his colleague who has contributed so much to Belize in his own quiet way.

Dr. Fernando Cuellar

Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Friend and colleague of Dr. Cecilio Eck (via Zoom)

“Let me say first and foremost, I’ve gotten the consent of his wife to say anything regarding Dr. Eck. And indeed, it is with heavy hearts that we in the medical community – one of us is falling, noh, has fallen critically ill, as sick as anybody can get with COVID pneumonia and the effects of COVID. Unfortunately, we had to incubate him this morning and ventilate (him), and I say “we” because we’re – we have a collaborative effort with all the doctors in Belize, primarily myself, Dr. Hidalgo, Dr. Arriaga as the lead physicians, noh. We see him together, we make decisions together, and that is where we are. The virus is a beast and has ravaged his lungs and in discussions today, the medical community is suggesting that we speak more towards mandating vaccines so as to lessen the transmission. I heard members of the Association pushing for that, that we as a medical community come out stronger in mandating vaccines because it has affected healthcare workers a lot, not only in Belize but worldwide noh because of our types of job that we do where we’re exposed so easily. The statistics show that the unvaccinated get sick more often. We’re not saying that when you get vaccinated it’s like you have a bullet-proof vest on you, but the numbers are there, so you stand more chances of falling ill and dying not being vaccinated. Dr. Eck is vaccinated – and I know that these are the examples that people who are against vaccination will use to point fingers. Dr. Eck came back I think came I think about fifteen, sixteen years ago – it was about 2005 as a pediatrician; he has worked in the government setting since and also in private practice, and indeed (he’s) very well-liked pediatrician by both parents and children. Dr. Eck is really soft-spoken. He is not as mouthy as myself, but he does his own quiet, important contribution and especially in the public setting. He has worked with the Karl Heusner quite a bit so I think that’s his main forte in helping underprivileged or people who do not have access to private health care, so that is indeed a very stellar career he has carried so far, noh. And I would just like to say that his wife has asked me to convey to the Belizean public to hold him in their prayers and let us all hope for the best, but we’re trying as best as we can to have a very productive member of society and a good man return back to productivity. I just ask everybody in Belize to pray and hope, if you’re religious or not, if you want to pray to the universe or to any specific other – please do, noh because this is a good man and has contributed and been very productive.”