It was Belize’s third attempt to access this particular source of funding and the successful effort came just in time. With an estimated two percent of the adult population believed to be infected with HIV, and new cases running at more than one a day, the battle against AIDS needs all the firepower it can […]
It is not new news, but it is worth keeping in mind. A release today from the World Bank confirms that Belize boasts the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of HIV infection in Central America. According to a UNAIDS document entitled “HIV/AIDS in Central America”, the prevalence of HIV in Belize’s adults is […]
Big time rumours of the imminent privatisation of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital have turned out to be much ado about nothing. A release from Cabinet indicates that at its meeting today a privatisation proposal submitted by Doctor Francis Smith was rejected. Private management, as opposed to a full buyout, was also ruled out for […]
Every family has its own name for it: the runs, the trots, bubble guts, work belly… you get the idea. But beyond a few days of keeping close to a bathroom, few sufferers ever bother to find out exactly what hit them. This week in Belize City, however, the good people who safeguard our food […]
The latest information bulletin released by the Ministry of Health confirms that a growing number of people are becoming infected with the virus that causes AIDS. According to the report for the second quarter, a hundred and fourteen new HIV infections were reported between April and June, with thirty eight more people coming down with […]
On yesterday’s newscast we travelled to the Youth Hostel to hear first hand from young people with behavioural problems. Today, on the closing day of Mental Health Week, News 5’s Patrick Jones met with the officials and practitioners who formulate and execute the nation’s policies on mental health. Patrick Jones, Reporting We see them walking […]
Belize joins Latin America and the Caribbean countries this Saturday in observing “Inter-American Water Day.” According to a joint release from the Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization, this year’s theme, “Let’s not take it for Granted”, calls for greater attention to water supply, quality, protection and conservation of this vital resource. […]
The news item missed our deadline for Friday, but the story of how the AIDS epidemic is affecting our nation, the Caribbean, and the world is not going to go away any time soon. Patrick Jones has the roundup of decisions taken at last week’s regional forum. Patrick Jones, Reporting The participants worked right up […]
They’ve been around the medical world for decades, but it’s only now that residents of the jewel will be benefiting from the device known as a pacemaker. And with a generation of Belizeans growing up on a diet of greasy fried chicken, these hearts will need all the help they can get. Patrick Jones has […]
We usually lead this newscast with shocking stories of crime, important decisions of government, or plain old political gossip. But ten years from now when we look back at the biggest story of the decade, it will likely be the devastation produced by the AIDS epidemic. Today officials from across the Caribbean met in Belize […]
According to health authorities, everyday the emergency room at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital sees an average of seventy patients… and that number gets bigger on the weekends and holidays. In light of this reality, medical officials need as much help as they can get. This week, that aid comes in the form of a […]
From humble beginnings fifteen years ago, Belize Medical Associates on St. Thomas Street has grown into a major player on the local health scene. Today, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods previewed some of the clinic’s newest diagnostic equipment. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Two weeks after twenty-five year old Said Acosta was treated for a stab to the […]
It was not all that long ago when the best medical advice a Belizean doctor could give a seriously ill patient was “go to Merida”. Today more Belizeans than ever are receiving their medical care at home, and one reason is the institution that today celebrated its first anniversary. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting One year ago […]
Anyone who’s had to go to a private clinic recently can tell you that maintaining one’s health can cost an arm and a leg. That’s why rumours that the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, one of the cheapest sources of medical care in Belize, was on the selling block were greeted with such panic. Panic that […]
As thousands of students returned to the classrooms today, medical personnel are warning parents of a painful, itchy condition. Approximately three weeks ago, health officials began noticing an increase in the number of persons afflicted with conjunctivitis, locally referred to as pink eye. The condition is not only painful, but it’s also highly contagious and […]
The Belize City Council is calling all citizens to join a fitness awareness run on Wednesday morning. The event will challenge runners of all levels to hit the pavement in search of a healthier lifestyle. According to the coordinator of youth and sports for the Belize City Council, Ernest Morris, the purpose is to encourage […]
We hear about HIV/AIDS in public awareness campaigns, but we seldom hear about it from the people who are actually suffering, or whose loved ones are infected. This is not surprising, considering that some people in Belize still shun anyone they think has AIDS. In 2001 News 5’s Janelle Chanona did a series of interviews […]
Chicken…it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Belize cause face it, as a people, we stick with what works. But for the few among us who don’t know that riceandbeanschickenandsalad is one word, this week, the Ministry of Agriculture is conducting a survey of our kitchens to find out exactly what we’re eating and […]
With Belize’s Prime Minister Said Musa currently sitting as President of the Central American Integration System, his ministers are now assuming their roles as heads of SICA’s subsidiary bodies. On Tuesday, Minister Mark Espat took over leadership of the Tourism Council, and as of today Minister of Health, Jose Coye, is in charge of COMISCA, […]
For years government and the private sector have urged the public to buy Belizean: particularly Belizean food products. Today, officials and processors met in Belize City to ensure that all that local produce is safe for the table. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting The workshop aims to improve the quality and safety of food produced and sold […]
Today a group of health professionals graduated from a series of classes that will hopefully leave residents of the Belize District with an improved level of care. The eighteen community nurse’s aides, who hail from fifteen different villages, completed a thirty-hour certification course in home nursing, which was conducted by the Belize Red Cross in […]
It is a life threatening disease which has impaired the lives of thousands of Belizeans. But while diabetes can be controlled to the point where a person can lead a normal life, there are some very specific disciplines which must be strictly adhered to. One of them is proper foot care. News 5’s Patrick Jones […]
They face the daily threat of SARS and AIDS, along with the ever-present emergencies of gunshot wounds, choppings and automobile accidents. But few Belizeans are aware that one of the most common reasons for admissions to our public health facilities is complications arising from illegal abortions. Patrick Jones has more. Patrick Jones, Reporting It’s a […]
According to local pharmacists, it’s one of the fastest selling pharmaceutical products in Belize: Viagra. The little blue pill that promises big results for the sexually challenged is a hot commodity and a lucrative business venture, with even Belizean registered companies getting into the mix. But those companies might be breaking some rules… and that’s […]
There is good news tonight on the medical front. Nine Belizeans quarantined on suspicion of having SARS are expected to be released from all restrictions tomorrow. According to officials in the Ministry of Health, the nine people, all members of one family, have shown no symptoms of the deadly SARS virus. The residents of Orange […]
