According to the National Health Information and Surveillance Unit, there are three hundred and eighty-one HIV positive Belizeans undergoing anti-retroviral therapy. In fulfilment of a 2004 government promise, that medication is provided free of charge … and while that is not about to change, the way the medication is distributed is. Director of the National […]
Earlier in this newscast we looked at a pair of unsung heroes. But heroism is a relative concept, and when it comes to offering a helping hand to those in need there is no shortage of heroic Belizean, large and small. Just ask Neville Bermudez. Janelle Chanona, Reporting To a stranger, Neville Bermudez is just […]
If there is a good side to the many trials and tribulations that citizens often face, it is that despite our problems, the Belizean public has been unfailingly generous when misfortune strikes. Today I got a chance to report on one happy result of that generosity. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting After undergoing a kidney transplant almost […]
Today countries around the world took time out to bring attention to an often neglected health issue: mental illness. In Belize, an official ceremony commemorating World Mental Health Day was held at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall in Belize City. Guest speakers cited some grim global and local statistics relating to this year’s theme: “Mental […]
O.K., so you’ve been convinced that knowing your HIV status is a good thing. You took the test. The result is positive. News Five’s Kendra Griffith, in the last of a three part report, tells us what happens next. Dr. Paul Edwards, Deputy Dir., Health Services ?Before, we had always encouraged individuals to go get […]
On last night’s newscast we looked at how changes in technology and available resources have made testing for HIV a fast, safe and necessary process. Tonight News Five’s Kendra Griffith gets into the nitty gritty of what happens when you actually go in for that blood test. Kendra Griffith, Reporting When conducted at a VCT […]
AIDS: We’ve been hearing about the deadly epidemic for years … but the continued rise in infections indicates that the message still may not be getting through. If Belize and the world are going to reverse that situation then the initial step is to find out who’s got the virus … and that means testing. […]
It may have taken them a while, but The Ministry of Health has finally released the first quarter report on HIV/AIDS for 2006. According to the statistics, there were one hundred and thirty-one new reported HIV infections, fifteen new AIDS cases, and fourteen AIDS-related deaths. The numbers show an increase compared to the first quarter […]
She has been in Canada for a week, first attending a seminar for Caribbean journalists and over the last three days reporting from the International AIDS Conference in Toronto. Tonight News Five’s Kendra Griffith offers some details on one very tangible result for the region coming out of the conference. Kendra Griffith, Reporting The challenge […]
There are many issues being discussed at the sixteenth International AIDS Conference, but two of the most positive developments involve advances in science and finance. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports from Toronto. Kendra Griffith, Reporting It?s been ten years since anti-retroviral therapy revolutionised the way the persons infected with HIV are treated … but that […]
Specialized medical care in Belize has dramatically improved over the last decade. And today I was updated on the latest advancement in treating matters of the heart. Dr. John Gough, Cardiologist, B.M.A. ?I hope now by coming back home we could offer a little bit more, and take these studies in another dimension.? Jacqueline Godwin, […]
The Belize Defence Force is charged with defending the country’s territorial integrity but today cameraman Rick Romero and I discovered that the men and women in green are also playing a vital role in the nation’s health care. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting Fifty-five year old papaya farmer Jose Antonio Soto was working in his Corozal field […]
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is no stranger to controversy. By the very nature of the life and death decisions made there, it would be a miracle if things always proceeded without incident. As for the latest allegations, like others in the past, they involve institutional negligence. Today the K.H.M.H. and a well known doctor […]
Those of us working in the media know that information is not always easy to find … and it’s even harder for members of the public. But one purveyor of vital information–that is the health sector–is now making our job much easier. Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting Today, through the Pan American Health Organization, Belize now has […]
The National AIDS Commission has fired off a press release responding to remarks made on Tuesday’s newscast by B.D.F. Medical Officer Doctor Irvin Gabourel defending the practice of mandatory HIV testing of recruits. According to N.A.C. chair, Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, the National AIDS Policy specifies that mandatory testing should not be used as a basis for […]
But while the B.D.F. is finding a way to deal with the invasion of HIV into its ranks, it is at the same time trying to deal with its controversial practice of mandatory HIV testing. In December a National Policy on HIV was proposed, which prohibits mandatory testing of employees. But according to Force Medical […]
Millions across the world are in the fight to be fit, and here in Belize the message is no different. According to current statistics, our population’s overall health is showing a distinct and disturbing, decline. Fernando Cuellar, Doctor, Belize Medical Association ?Eat healthy, exercise regularly, reduce alcohol intake and stop smoking.? Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting But […]
Today, the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition met with their counterparts in Belize to establish a support network for persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. According to Laison officer of the United Nations Population Fund Jewel Quallo Rosberg, the community based initiative is a welcomed effort. Jewel Quallo Rosberg, U.N.F.P.A., Laison officer, Belize ?The whole idea […]
On May thirtieth we aired the traumatic experience of young David Bahadur, the construction worker from Punta Gorda was left with horrific burns to more than half his body following an accident on the job. This morning, I visited with Bahadur to find out how he and his family are coping with their new reality. […]
The recent press briefing by the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital has highlighted the problem of affordability of health care for lower income Belizeans. Today that institution was the venue for a clinic that, while not solving the problem, at least helps a significant number of patients. News Five’s Alyssa Noble reports. Alyssa Noble, Reporting Heart […]
It is an institution that figures frequently in this newscast and today is no exception. At a press conference this morning the people who manage the nation’s largest medical facility came front and centre to explain their plans and confront some recurring demons. Dr. Alvaro Rosado, Chief Executive Officer, K.H.M.H. ?We welcome constructive criticism and […]
It has taken a while, but on Monday government and the Social Security Board rolled out the National Health Insurance programme in the Stann Creek and Toledo Districts. Speaking in separate ceremonies in Punta Gorda and Dangriga, Prime Minister Said Musa says the initiative will benefit those who need it most. Prime Minister Said Musa […]
Word out of the Cuban embassy tonight is that a neurosurgeon has been dispatched to work in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Fifty-one year old Dr. Abigail Matos is described as a doctor with twenty-five years experience, most recently at the Saturnino Lora Hospital in Santiago de Cuba. Matos arrived in Belize in mid-May and […]
On Thursday night, health officials and members of the business community will gather in Belize City for an update of the spread of bird flu. According to the experts, the virus has already caused millions of dollars in financial losses but more disturbingly, there is also evidence that avian influenza can spread to humans who […]
This week national health officials are also meeting with their counterparts to discuss the state of the region’s preparedness to provide adequate medical care to its citizens. The experts are reviewing current protocols and procedures in order to make services affordable and accessible. Acting Deputy Director of Health Dr. Paul Edwards explains how the conference […]
