The influenza is sweeping through Belize City schools. Last week various schools sent students home as a result of the flu. Today over a hundred students were absent from classes at St John’s Vianney primary. They have also been reporting the symptoms, which may indicate the ordinary influenza or the dreaded H1N1. No confirmed cases […]
And while the school has been unable to contact the authorities, a mother of five sick children says she’s had her own share of problems with the health system. Jermin Ferrel’s kids attend St. John Vianney School but have been out with flu-like symptoms for three days. Up to today, Ferrel has not been able […]
There are over five thousand persons in the country that are living with HIV. This statistic is revealed in the National Health Information and Surveillance Unit in the Ministry of Health second quarter report for 2009. Doctor Marvin Manzanero, the Director of the National HIV/Aids Program, says that the statistics show that many infected men […]
The official inauguration is still in the planning stage but the newly constructed San Ignacio Town Hospital is already in operation. With some minor final touches being completed, the opening should take place in a couple of months. The new facility which is located on the Bullet Tree Road, offers the same services as the […]
Health experts say that the majority of babies are born with jaundice. But did you know that newborns with this health condition are at their most critical period in the days following birth? This week’s edition of Healthy Living focuses on jaundice. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting It is reported that sixty percent of babies are born […]
Also in Belize City, another baby has died at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and while details are still sketchy, at first blush it points to the general decay in the health system. Information reaching our newsroom is that the infant was released from the K.H.M.H., sent home, but worsened and was then admitted to […]
It’s no secret that the sun has adverse effects on our health. We are regularly bombarded with messages of skin cancer and the necessity of sunscreen. But putting on enough S.P.F. protection is not the only action needed to be taken against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Your eyes need protection as well. This week’s […]
Have you heard of A.D.H.D.? It is a disorder that is afflicting at least five percent of the world’s population and the jewel is not exempted. A.D.H.D. is normally detected at childhood through a pattern of inattention and hyperactivity. Healthy Living this week looks at the signs and symptoms of this condition that can persist […]
BERT, The Belize Emergency Response Team was created in August of 1999 by the government and the Wagner Foundation to attend to emergency services in the Belize District. The Wagners invested in the infrastructure, training of Emergency Medical Technicians and equipment during the first five years of the operation. However, funding has not always been […]
It doesn’t come up in your everyday conversations, but the Belize Health Information System (B.H.I.S.) is the topic of discussions at a three day workshop being held at the Princess Hotel. Twelve nations, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean Countries, have converged in the Jewel to learn about the development of […]
In addition to conditions at the regional hospitals and the H1N1 flu, Dr. Pitts as Director of Health Services also has another health problem to attend to. Break bone Fever or Dengue is a problem that is endemic to Belize. Whenever it rains, the water that settles becomes a potential breeding ground for the Aedes […]
Twice annually the Rotary Club of Belize holds free heart clinics for children with heart disease. Yesterday and today it concluded the last of its clinics for 2009 at the Southern Regional and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospitals respectively. The programme is made possible through Rotary fundraisers with voluntary services provided by the visiting doctors and […]
A two day workshop sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization about Risk and Outbreak Communication ended Thursday afternoon. The Influenza A-H1N1 outbreak is a real life example that the panellists examined to show how different organizations and society function to keep potential pandemic diseases under control. Sandra Jones, PAHO’s Technical Advisor explained more. Sandra […]
The thyroid is a small and powerful gland that plays a large role in your overall health. Tonight Healthy living looks at what a malfunction of your thyroid can mean for your health. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland located in the front of the neck. But although small, the […]
While the dust has settled in the dispute between the members of the Belize Medical Doctors Union and the Board of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, a Commission of Inquiry will now begin its work. A date has not yet been set for the inception of its investigations, but its scope will cover a two […]
An emergency by definition is unexpected and urgent but when it comes to life, it can turn out deadly. Many do not plan ahead for such scares but there is one way of keeping yourself prepared: Getting trained in First Aid. Healthy Living shares some first aid tips to help you in an emergency. Winnie […]
There is some bad news on the health front for some persons needing CT-scans and certain surgeries. That’s because the CT-scan equipment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is out of commission, and has been for about a week. Reports are that the hospital is currently referring patients to private institutions for CT-scans and foots […]
And there is movement in the appointment of the Commission of Inquiry to conduct investigations into the allegations of improprieties at the K.H.M.H. According to an official release, the Commission will have as its Chair, Justice Adolph Lucas and will include Ministry of Health nominee, Julia Castillo and NTUCB nominee, Orvin Nicholas. Among its Terms […]
It is not only the sudden change of heart to join the Venezuelan housing committee that has Finnegan upset with the National Trade Union Congress. He says that they want to take over the Commission of Inquiry that the Prime minister has sanctioned to investigate the procurement practices of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. And […]
Also at the house meeting, the PM said that Dr. Cardo Martinez received over five hundred thousand dollars worth of contracts from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital out of a million dollars that had been donated by the Venezuelan government for the upgrading of the K.H.M.H. But according to an enraged Martinez, he never got […]
It is unpleasant, preventable and all too common. This week’s Healthy Living takes a deeper look at Halitosis, the causes and the simple steps you can take to prevent it. Marleni Cuellar, Reporting Bad breath. Even though it’s not life threatening, it is a health issue that many people spend much time and money trying […]
There is an outbreak of dengue fever, and most of the cases are reported in the Cayo District. And while that is news in itself, News Five found out today that there is another story developing at the San Ignacio Hospital. And it has to do with a shortage of medical personnel. This stems from […]
While there is trouble brewing over a shortage of doctors at the Cayo hospital, the outbreak of dengue is not going away. Earlier today, News Five spoke to a San Ignacio nurse who says that they are taking every necessary step to treat victims of break bone fever. Josephine Garnett, Nurse “We have dengue cases […]
The health system has come under the microscope recently over allegations of negligence and scandalous purchases, but when it comes to information systems, there is some improvement in the works. The Ministry of Heath, along with PAHO, the Health Metrics Network and the National Health Information Systems Committee are spending two days at the Biltmore […]
Friday’s mediation process between the Belize Medical and Dental Union and the administration of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital came to a satisfactory conclusion for both groups. There was worry that the groups would have to be taken to arbitration since there were outright accusations of impropriety on both sides. It got tense with a […]
