One of the prime tourism islands has been without a doctor, in some instances for months, and the access to timely healthcare on Caye Caulker has become an issue for residents. The problem, we are told, is a perennial one, where the facility has been short of a physician at times for up to eight […]
The appointment of the new director of drug inspectorate has brought to the forefront a wide range of shortfalls within the system in respect of imported pharmaceuticals and persons practicing without a license. According to the Pharmacists’ Association of Belize, there is need for drug inspectors across the country to ensure that proper procedures are […]
On Wednesday, C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health, Peter Allen, was under fire particularly for the recent appointment of Danini Contreras as Director of Drug Inspectorate. There is one other issue that we did not report on because of the volume of news and it has to do with the Central Regional Administrator, Melinda Guerra, […]
Danini Contreras – the young lady from Benque has come under very intense scrutiny after she was appointed to the newly created post of Drug Inspectorate Director and today per appointment came under fire from within the top ranks of the Ministry of Health. She has just returned from studies in Guatemala, and has absolutely […]
News Five confirmed on Tuesday that newcomer Contreras is now also authorized to approve the entry of pharmaceuticals through Customs. That decision was taken by C.E.O. in the Ministry of Health Peter Allen. He claims he did so because he was told that Chief Pharmacist Sharon Anderson was on strike and could not hold the […]
As we told you, Contreras is now authorized to approve the entry of pharmaceuticals through Customs. That has raised all sorts of unpleasant speculation. Minister Erwin Contreras is considered a heavy player in Benque Viejo and bordering Guatemala, and his daughter’s new-found authority even before her post is confirmed has raised eyebrows. Today, Ministry of […]
Aside from authorization to Danini Contreras, Ministry of Health C.E.O. Peter Allen has also issued authority to two others to approve entry of medical supplies through Customs. As we’ve also confirmed, Director of Health Services Michael Pitts has been left out of the loop. He had no knowledge of the appointment of Contreras, and likewise, […]
With all that out of the way, we can get to the matter of the Public Service Union, which has declared the Danini Contreras appointment as an essential services dispute. The union got on board after Chief Pharmacist Sharon Anderson reported that she had been a victim of some serious and devious shenanigans in the […]
Today, the Ministry of Health held a special ceremony to acknowledge the efforts of the administration and staff of the Matron Roberts Polyclinic Two. That’s because the facility, which consistently receives high marks, has obtained the highest scores as an NHI Primary Care provider for 2013 – one hundred percent in facility assessment, services, health […]
The Pharmacists’ Association of Belize and the Ministry of Health have been at odds for some time now. The discord came on the heels of the appointment of Danini Contreras, the daughter of Minister Erwin Contreras, as Drug Inspectorate in the ministry. Support for the association has since been overwhelming and for the past two […]
And where pharmacy-related matters are concerned, things in the Ministry of Health just got even more interesting. The Public Service Union has gotten involved, and made its presence known today with a fiery release. Here’s what precipitated the union’s involvement, in a nutshell, and you can connect the dots. Chief Pharmacist Sharon Anderson is currently […]
CHIKV, a mosquito-borne virus which causes an illness similar in transmission to dengue fever, has become an emerging threat within Latin America and the Caribbean. Infection causes an acute fever which can last anywhere between two to five days, succeeded by a prolonged period of joint pains, intense headache, sleeplessness, and weakness. While vector control […]
Easter is here and within the next few days, thousands of Belizeans will travel to their favorite watering hole for some rest, relaxation and fun. One of the unfortunate side-effects of this four-day weekend is the number of traffic accidents and drowning incidents that take place. The Police Department has been proactive in warning motorists […]
It’s been a month since the Pharmacy Association has been expressing concern about the appointment of the daughter of Minister Erwin Contreras to the post of Director of Drug Inspectorate in the Ministry of Health. Danini Contreras, according to the Pharmacy Association, is simply not qualified for the job and neither was the required procedure […]
This morning, the Ministry of Health received a fleet of health support vehicles from the United Emirates. The twenty-six vehicles are valued at three hundred thousand dollars; essentially they are three-wheeled motorcycles with a cover unit equipped with seating and stretcher to transport patients. The Ministry of Health says they will be distributed to hospitals […]
There have been reported irregularities in two hospitals; the Southern Regional as well as the Central Regional Hospital. In the south, the Hospital Administrator Nasley Sommerville was suspended last October, after an audit investigation turned up serious irregularities amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars gone missing. The Police, the Audit Department and the FIU […]
There was another event not far from our studios. The Kidney Association in Belize held its annual health fair at the Lion’s Club Parking Lot on Princess Margaret Drive. The fair creates awareness of the various symptoms and causes of kidney related diseases…many which are similar to that of other chronic diseases. Several health providers […]
Complimentary & Alternative Medicine, or CAM, is a term used to describe non-mainstream health approaches. Some of these approaches are used together with conventional medicine – complementary and some are used in place of conventional medicine – alternative. In Belize the most common example is herbal medicine. We know many persons who swear by their […]
World Health Day is being commemorated universally today. In Belize City, representatives from the Ministry of Health, as well as the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO, formally recognized the day by hosting a health fair. Under the theme “Small Bite, Big Threat”, the focus of the daylong exhibition was on vector-borne diseases. Chief Executive Officer […]
Residents in San Ignacio are concerned about a recurring problem in the western municipality. It has to do with the supply of running water inside homes. On Wednesday for about three hours, the water from the faucets was dirty and muddy. Residents are of the view that ongoing road works has been causing the problem […]
There are some bodily functions that – as adults – we are just expected to always be in control of. In fact, once you are passed the toddler stage, it may seem simply inexcusable that an adult may not be able to control when they need to “go.” Right? Well, wrong. Tonight in Healthy Living, […]
The plights of many afflicted with various forms of cancer are compelling stories that are often told by survivors of the illness. While their testimonies focus primarily on coping with the disease, little is said about its cause. Today, during a Wellness Ambassador Training, hosted by the Belize Cancer Society, News Five’s Duane Moody learned […]
The idea for the Inspiration Center was birthed in 2012 and since then Special Envoy for Women and Children Kim Simplis Barrow has been hard at work making that dream a reality. From the Inspiration Telethon to countless appearances in the media promoting the noble effort, it all came to fruition today when the doors […]
Time for a little mathematics….Try to add the number of hours you spend looking at a computer monitor, smart phone, tablet, e-reader and yes, even the hour or so you just spent watching the TV screen; tuned in to this newscast. Technology has dramatically improved our access to information in our offices, homes and even […]
News Five has learned that former Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb McKenzie is hospitalized, and has been so since last Friday. A family member told News Five that McKenzie started having seizures last week, and an MRI discovered that she had suffered a mini-infarction, or mini-stroke. But there is good news tonight, as we understand that […]
