P.U.P. chides government on healthcare

This afternoon, the Peoples United Party (P.U.P.) held a two hour press conference inside the Independence Hall headquarters. The room was filled with party supporters and elected representatives. The focus of the press conference was to update the nation on crime and health. Doctor Marco Tulio Mendez, the Area Representative for Orange Walk East delivered an address that counted numerous inefficiencies in the Ministry of Health and maternal deaths in the south of the country.

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Area Representative, Orange Walk East

Marco Tulio Mendez

“Maternal and child healthcare is a barometer of a nation’s state of development and its future. Unfortunately this year, we have had maternal deaths and the infant mortality has increased from seventeen per one thousand to twenty-two per one thousand. Numbers don’t lie. Only under the P.U.P. has our infant mortality reached as low as twelve per one thousand—only under the People’s United Party. Our health services lack quality, accessibility, efficiency and prompt health care. This government is incompetent and we have an incompetent Minister of Health. Take for example the P.G. Hospital; it needs a real renovation. The ceiling is full of lice, the roof is full of bats and the walls are invested with insects. Babies are not dying in the hospital, but they are dying at home due to an increase in home-deliveries in the Toledo district. Five million dollars invested by Japan and healthcare providers are questioning this investment and asking that a reliable communication services be made between remote healthcare providers as the ones that are in Jalacte, Pointe, San Vicente, Santa Cruz and the Hospital of P.G. Also this hospital only has one ambulance. With an average of ten referrals per week to the Southern Regional Hospital, they need at least two ambulances to guarantee a prompt and efficient referral system. According to the G.O.B. Annual Health Report of last year, the immunization coverage decreased drastically in the western regional due to limited transportation and mobile services. While ministers we know ride in their fancy SUVs. No wonder we had whopping cough in the Cayo district. It is not that we don’t have vaccines; it is not that people don’t reach to the health centers. I have been informed that thousands of dollars assigned for fuel to the San Ignacio Hospital is sued by the Benque Viejo Town Board and its ambulance and that some are unaccountable. At this hospital, it is said medications are ineffective due to their brand—cheap medications. No wonder why hypertensive patients and diabetic patients are not being well controlled. The report of the auditor general shows that there are many irregularities in relation to the management of pharmaceutical and medical supplies in stores. They are unsatisfactory and many do not records items received and/or issued. In many institutions, there is open victimization, corruption and ministerial interference. At the Northern Regional Hospital, the backyard of the Minister of Health is a classic example. The previous Northern Regional Manager was transferred and replaced by an unqualified U.D.P. crony; a U.D.P. wannabe standard bearer for the Corozal North and relative to the Minister of Health. And the Minister’s nephew is now the deputy regional manager. Belizean doctors, I will say Corozalenos doctors, specialist, senior specialists, qualified and experience physicians had to resign due to their unjustified transfer away from their families; away from the people that they want to serve.”