Doctors attend seminar by Omni Med and Rotary Int’l

After almost two years of negotiations, a non-profit organization which focuses on health education, Omni Med is in Belize conducting a workshop with Belizean doctors at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Omni Med is working in partnership with Rotary International’s Medical Equipment Donation Program. The organization’s specific goal is to help to bridge the gap between the enormous health care needs of the world’s less fortunate and the ample supply of talented health care professionals in more affluent countries. Omni Med says it is starting in Belize and will be rotating volunteers every few months to conduct seminars. News Five spoke to Dr. Ed O’Brien, President of Omni Med.

Dr. Ed O’Brien, President, Omni Med

“We came here in September of 1997. We were invited by Rotary International to advise them. To date they donated close to three million dollars worth of equipment that is in Orange Walk and San Ignacio. When we came for the very first time we talked to a lot of providers and the theme that came up time and time again was medical attention. And that seemed to be the best way that we could be of help to bring in qualified physicians that are good teachers to do educational programs. The great thing that has come out of this too is that we are also learning from the Belizean providers as well. So far it’s been a very successful one day.”

O’Brien says that all doctors who come down from the United States to hold workshops are volunteering their time. He says that in the next four months a hand surgeon from South Africa will be in Belize to conduct another seminar. The Rotary Club of Belize and Rotary International will be providing financial assistance to the program.