San Pedro Hospital Finally On Its Way
After years of asking, residents of Ambergris Caye are finally getting a state of the art hospital. The cost to construct the hospital will be thirty-three million dollars. But, this is not coming out of public funds, because the Government of Belize was able to secure the finance through a grant from the Republic of China, Taiwan. Today, residents gathered inside the San Pedro Lion’s Den to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding between G.O.B. and Taiwan for the construction of the health facility. Today is being hailed a historic day for the islanders. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The island of San Pedro is finally receiving a general hospital. The Government of Belize and the Republic of China, Taiwan signed a memorandum of understanding today to begin construction on the long-anticipated project.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness
Kevin Bernard
“It is a very important and momentous occasion that we are here today to do the signing of that cooperation agreement between the government of Belize and the republic of China Taiwan. This is a start of what will happen and come but the significant of what we are doing here is to ensure that we can begin to ensure that San Pedro, the residents of San Pedro and visitors to this island have access to health care.”
The island currently has a polyclinic. And, while the health facility’s services have expanded over the years, Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard readily admits that its resources are limited. According to the minister, the island’s population has now outgrown the polyclinic. Andre Perez, the Area Representative for Belize Rural South, recounted an unfortunate incident where a pregnant mother lost her life while being transported off the island to seek critical care in Belize City.
Andre Perez
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural
“When we hear of the loss of a loved one that perhaps could have been avoided, only if we had a hospital. Such was one particular case on March fourteenth, 2017, although it is a momentous occasion I am obliged to mention, when a young twenty-three year old resident with child birth complications lost her life while trying to board a flight to Belize City for further medical attention. But, in our plan Belize promises were made to be kept not to be broken. And today one of those promises is being fulfilled and as such we mark this as a historic and momentous occasion.”
The Government of Taiwan has committed a thirty-three million dollar grant to cover the cost of construction. Prime Minister John Briceño was at the historic event and had this to say.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Well it is certainly an exciting day. It is actually historic because previous government was offering or promising over and over that they are going to get the hospital. I mean they even put it in the budget for two consecutive years and it was never done. We know that it is something that is needed. We are not doing the people a favor. It is something that needed, not only for the residents but also for the tourist that come to visit to Belize. So, it was high in our priority list to get the funding. So, we managed to meet the foreign minister of Taiwan, the President, and certainly the ambassador here. We spoke to them about the need and they decided that they are going to partner with us in making the funding available. Now that the funding is available, now we sign the MOU.
It is anticipated that ground breaking for the San Pedro Hospital will take place in March. GOB expects that construction will be completed within a two-year period.
David Kuan-Chou Chien
David Kuan-Chou Chien, Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize
“There is an old saying in Taiwan that medical doctors have a parental heart. People regard medical doctors as their parents who gave birth to them, which refers to the importance of medical care in our daily lives. We know that San Pedro Town is far away from the mainland of Belize. Medical care has always troubled the residents and tourist of this island. Taiwan has reached experience in the field of building and managing medical facilities and is willing to share it with Belize to benefit the Belizean people.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
