Doctors say healthcare system needs Apheresis machine
Earlier we reported on the prognosis of Rodwell Williams, who is now hospitalized in Miami. Before he was transported to the Jackson Memorial, his medical treatment locally required certain equipment which is not available either at the private or public hospitals. The doctors from the Belize Healthcare services are publicly appealing to the government to acquire this particular a piece of equipment required for life threatening surgeries. The Apheresis machine is used in blood transfusions and on Wednesday the doctors met with the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health, Doctor Peter Allen and Director of Health Service, Doctor Michael Pitts, to discuss getting one in the country.
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, Head of I.C.U. at Belize Health Care Partners
“The machine is used to separate the different kind of products that the blood has, in this case in a combinational scenario, we want to have platelets, we need to use like twenty donors in one day, only for platelets. With the machine, the same amount of platelets that we can get for twenty is for one. I mean that saves human resources. Not only for the injuries, but also when we transfuse a lot of blood; but also the same transfusion can damage not only with the clotting factors, the ability to create clots can be affected for multiple transfusion. Having those blood products, we can avoid reaching those multiple or several transfusions of whole blood.”
Marion Ali
“And there have been many deaths in Belize because we don’t have this machine?”
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
“Well definitely we have several cases, and not only surgical cases but you know we have also cancer patients, where this machine can be very useful this machine can be very useful.”
Dr. Emerson Munguia, Surgeon K.H.M.H
emerson munguia
“If we have in Belize this kind of product, blood product that we need; of course the possibility even the patients would be better. But up to now, 2010 we don’t have a small that can make this product, this blood product that we noh have in Belize.”
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
“It’s not a secret that we are facing a very, very violent country. And this time it was Mr. Williams each of us can be in that situation. And they are trying to work on that’s promise that we have today.”
Currently Williams’ treatment involves the use of the Apheresis machine.
Get TWO machines, 1 for KHMH, the public hospital and 1 for United the private hospital. Obiviously we need them!
Only when such a rich and prominent person gets in such situation, people decide to improve such a “situation”. It is very sad, but I always think that unless some important minister or the PM himself gets in a situation that compromises his health, the government will do something to improve the conditions and services of the hospitals. Imagine if the PM gets into an accident in Corozal, will he be able to get the medical attention he needs? I don’t think so, because all the hospitals are barely functional, there is no trauma centers, most of the times the ambulances do not have gas. There are so many things that are wrong in Belize, but no one does any thing. I do not live in Belize, but I know what is the current situation. It is sad that when people get in government position they think just for themselves but not in their country. They do not think on how to improve the country and the living standards of the citizens.
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
I need information on Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, please send it to me to my e-mail. I’m going to interview him in a TV talk show in Guatemala in a few days and would like to know some of his achievements and why he is considered to be such a good doctor! Thank you.