Dengue is another disease that has been affecting other countries in the region. The good news is that in Belize, there has not been high mortality relating to the epidemic and the number of cases has decreased due to vector control measures put in place. Doctor Manzanero notes, however, that the west has seen an […]
Doctor Manzanero also provided News Five with an update on the status of Chik-V in the country. Months after the tropical virus became prevalent in neighboring Central American countries, in late 2014 Chikungunya popped up in the community of Salvapan, in the outskirts of Belmopan when a resident who had travelled to El Salvador returned […]
Whether you believe in New Year resolutions or not; making a commitment – at anytime in the year – to get healthy is commendable. So if you’re interested in becoming one of the January babies at the gym in 2016, then this segment of Healthy Living will have some useful information for you. Marleni Cuellar, […]
The health of the Belize District population is at risk. Indicators show that far too many residents are severely over-weight and that in the younger population, more newborns died last year than they did in the same period in 2014. That is the information compiled in a biannual health bulletin released by the Central Health […]
The report also looked at the top five communicable and non-communicable diseases. Interestingly, dengue and malaria did not make the list of most prevalent communicable diseases for the first ten months of 2015. Doctor Javier Zuniga explains. Dr. Javier Zuniga, Regional Manager, Central Health Region “The top five communicable which means transmissible from person […]
In this, our last Healthy Living segment for 2015, we compile some of the top health tips offered by our medical, mental health and fitness experts during the outgoing year. It is our hope that this flashback will help you to maintain a healthier living over the last few weeks of 2015. Marleni Cuellar, […]
Let’s be honest, in exactly one week, the inundation of food and drinks will be upon us. For some of us, it really doesn’t matter how many times we tell ourselves we won’t overindulge. But more often than not at some point during the Christmas holidays we will face discomfort due to overeating or excessive […]
The story of the semen-injecting dentist who was licensed and ready to commence operations in San Pedro is shocking. Somehow John Robert Hall, an American dentist convicted for assault on seven of his patients, was granted a license by the Belize Medical Council. Not only that, but the license was issued in another name – […]
As we told you Tuesday night, all it took to get information on John Robert Hall was a visit to Google. His arrest in North Carolina for injecting semen into the mouths of seven of his female patients popped up immediately. So how did that get past the Belize Medical Council? Dr. Ramon Figueroa, […]
On November ninth, then Chair of the K.H.M.H. Board of Governors Chandra Nisbet-Cansino was approached and asked to step down. She had only recently signed a contract for an addition three years, and the announcement of her removal appeared sudden and unexpected. News Five was able to confirm political machinations in her removal and at […]
In September, the tragic deaths of two females hung like a dark cloud over the Western Regional Hospital. Lucia Cal and Nolberta Sanchez were both treated at that facility and both died amid allegations of criminal negligence by medical personnel. An investigation was started in September, and today we asked Health C.E.O., Doctor Ramon Figueroa […]
We also asked C.E.O. Figueroa about a series of financial shenanigans which allegedly took place under his predecessor Peter Allen. Multiple audits revealed serious breakdowns in and non-adherence to financial checks and balances which should have been instituted and monitored by the Ministry of Finance. Figueroa says that things will be different under his watch. […]
For many, the mere word Christmas brings memories and feelings of happiness and joy. For others, it can cause an instant headache as they crunch numbers trying to figure out how to cover all the expenses that this season brings; and for some, Christmas time brings about an inescapable feeling of sadness. If you’ve found […]
How did a dentist from the U.S. charged and convicted for gross criminal abuse of office get a license from the Belize Medical Council to open a clinic and practice in Belize? That’s one critical question. Another is how did John Roberts Hall, that North Carolina dentist who pleaded guilty to injecting semen into the […]
Hall’s license has been revoked, but it seems quite clear that the council could not have done even the most cursory due diligence since that license to practice was issued under a false name – Robert Bob Hall. Interestingly, when San Pedro Police picked up John Roberts Hall on Monday he had a temporary work […]
When Christmas time comes around, none of us want to hear the dreaded “D” word….DIET. But, with the abundance of savory and sweet treats available, it’s hard not to derail from your attempts at healthier living. So is it possible to have a bit of indulgence without packing on holiday pounds? That’s we try to […]
There is a new Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health…well at least he’s the interim DHS until formalities are completed. Head of the Epidemiology Unit, Doctor Marvin Manzanero has vacated that post and moves up the ladder as the new DHS. The post became vacant early this year after former DHS Michael […]
Doctor Manzanero has hit the ground running, meeting with technical advisors and other officials to plan a way forward for improved healthcare services. Doctor Manzanero told News Five that his plan, and that of the Ministry of Health, is to take a proactive stands in addressing health issues and to improve the internal communication structure […]
A sub-regional workshop on the development of competencies for nurse educators in the region commenced today at the Ramada Belize City Princess. Organized by the Pan American Health Organization office both locally and regionally, the three-day meeting is bringing together nursing professionals from the region to review objectives to improve the nursing education system and […]
One way to set regional health standards involves a mandatory nursing examination across English-speakingCaribbeancountries. According to Deputy Director of Health Services with Responsibility for Nursing, Augustina Elijio, the workshop also looks at the existing nursing and midwifery competency. Elijio says that global initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals as well as Universal Health Coverage […]
There are cases of Zika in Central America. Today, the Ministry of Health confirmed that there have been three persons with the vector-borne illness in Guatemala and El Salvador. The virus is transmitted by the aedes aegypti mosquito that also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses. Zika was initially detected in the Caribbean in mid-November […]
A dollar to save the life of a child afflicted with cancer. A Thousand Smiles for Cleyon, is an organization that has been working with several pediatric cancer patients. Together, its members raise money to assist the children with traveling expenses to and from Belize to Merida, Mexico or Guatemala and also to assist with […]
A vector-borne illness closely related to dengue and chikungunya has been detected in the Caribbean region. In a release issued by the Caribbean Public Health Agency, CARPHA, it is confirmed that there are five cases of Zika in the Caribbean. While countries in South America have reported cases of the mosquito-borne disease, Belize is clear […]
While Zika fever ranks lowest on the totem pole of the three related illnesses, the Ministry of Health reminds everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Preparations for the introduction of the disease are underway based on the most recent experience of Chik-V throughout the region and the Americas. Isani Cayetano “In terms of […]
Many persons don’t know they are diabetic and are therefore not being treated. The disease creeps in unexpectedly and can have far reaching health risks, at times fatal, if it is not treated. Among our small population, there are as many as forty thousand persons diagnosed with the disease but an equal number probably don’t […]
