We also asked about the five hundred thousand dollars the Government of Belize reportedly owes to the KHMH for renovations done to the COVID unit. Minister Chebat says the documents need to be reviewed by Cabinet. CEO Cansino says KHMH already has a commitment from the Ministry of Finance. Michel Chebat, Minister of Health […]
While Belizeans may be breathing a sigh of relief that no-movement Sundays and 7 pm curfew has been lifted, the country is yet to see the results of this two week attempt to control the spread of COVID-19. We have also yet to see the peak in the current wave of cases, spurred on by […]
Minister Chebat was asked what impact– if any– he feels those against vaccinations are having on the public response. He said while they may be vocal, most Belizeans understand why they need to get vaccinated and are getting their jabs. He also spoke about break-through cases and the data being gathered on these. Michel […]
In international COVID news, a medical study completed this month has found that even people who were never sick enough to need hospitalization have an increased risk of developing blood clots and heart disease. According to Bloomberg news, the chances of a heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular event in the first 12 months […]
Cuellar says COVID survivors, particularly those who have had to be hospitalized, should have frequent exams of their heart and lungs to determine if the disease has created any lasting damage to their body. Dr. Fernando Cuellar, Internist “When you have the disease, you certainly have blood clots. They call them micro or small […]
A new statutory instrument to address the surge in COVID-19 cases was introduced by the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Thursday evening. The fifty-five page document succeeded an appearance of health officials on government’s bi-weekly Up 2 The Minute social media broadcast during which Dr. Julio Sabido broke down the new measures. Those incoming […]
According to Dr. Sabido, there will be a slight relaxing of the nightly curfew, but only if the daily positivity rate decreases by November first. Dr. Julio Sabido, Ministry of Health & Wellness “Churches are allowed to open and to open with fifty percent seating capacity, fully vaccinated and observing all public health measures. […]
The Ministry of Health & Wellness is kicking off a month of activities beginning today with Global Hand-Washing Day. The events, in partnership with Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), are being celebrated under the theme, “Our future is at hand – let’s move forward together.” The Ministry says this is a call to action to […]
In regional news, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley has announced that in order to protect those who have gotten vaccinated, her government will be creating “safe zone” where people can mingle without fear of the virus. She has rejected calls for any further lockdowns, saying these actions jeopardize jobs and economic recovery. Here […]
The daily COVID statistics gives us an indication of how bad the infection and death rates are in Belize. On Wednesday, Acting Director of Health Services for the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Francis Morey shared the startling numbers in a more comprehensive form. The information includes cases from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, […]
This is Mental Health Week and in Belize, anxiety and depression are the most prevalent challenges. According to Mental Health Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Nurse Iveth Quintanilla, COVID-19 also has a significant impact on people’s mental health. Nurse Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator, Min. of Health & Wellness “As we […]
Over the past twenty years, hundreds of children in Belize have received advanced care through the World Pediatric Project. While the non-profit organization celebrates that milestone, there are still many in need of medical assistance. The program model is built upon long-term engagement and continuity of multi-specialty care and capacity-building. Tonight, News Five’s Isani Cayetano […]
By tradition, patients in need of surgery would have the procedure performed by a specialist who would make a large incision into their bodies. Surgeons would later realize that this created unnecessary trauma and subsequently adopted laparoscopic surgery, commonly called a “keyhole surgery,” by the turn of the twenty-first century. Since then, operations have been […]
Dr. Cawich explains that with the advent of COVID-19 last year, it forced many in the medical professionals to rethink their approach to performing surgeries. Dr. Shamir Cawich, Professor of Liver and Pancreas Surgery “When the pandemic hit and I have this here in March 2020 because that’s when the first case in Trinidad […]
Here at News Five we are so happy to have one of our reporters back with us. Marion Ali, who was hospitalized with COVID-19, will be doing next week’s COVID Chronicles. She will share with you her experiences battling the disease and the challenges still facing her as she recovers. But this week, News Five’s […]
Prime Minister Briceno assured that while there are reports of having three cruise ports in Belize City, he said they have to allow the parties to follow the environmental process and to decide which among them will be the best project for Belize in terms of the economy, the people and the environment. But turning […]
Prime Minister John Briceno made an appearance on Open Your Eyes this morning. Among the many issues he addressed was why his administration decided to lift the no-movement Sundays. He says success in the fight against COVID-19 will come from Belizeans adhering to basic measures and getting vaccinated. Prime Minster John Briceno “We can’t […]
Two weeks ago, we told you Cabinet approved a plan to implement new COVID-19 measures that will be enforced over the next three months. According to PM Briceno there will be a gradual resumption of a number of activities Belizeans can begin again, and even the possibility of the borders reopening before the end of […]
Also by the end of the year, frontline workers will be required to be vaccinated. It is an incoming regulation, according to PM Bricneo, that will no longer give these people the option to present a negative COVID-19 test every two weeks. He also addressed the push back from the tourism sector over the vaccine […]
It has been dormant for a while, but the Pharmacists Association of Belize is making a comeback under new leadership. On Tuesday night, a virtual meeting of the membership was held and Caye Caulker Chairlady, Seleny Villanueva-Pott was elected as the new president. While we have come to recognise Villanueva-Pott as the face of the […]
Pharmacists are also frontline workers in the healthcare system and Villanueva-Pott wants to ensure that the association has a voice at the table. Seleny Villanueva-Pott, President, Pharmacists Association of Belize “We want to have a better working relationship with the Ministry of Health. We know in the past, we have seen ongoing issues about […]
The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization continues to support the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital with the latest donation of IT equipment and office supplies for its surveillance activities as part of ensuring COVID-19 vaccine safety. PAHO/WHO says in January they conducted a regional survey to evaluate the capacities of potential hospitals for vaccines against […]
The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital has not been exempted from the challenging economic times. As viewers may recall, there are hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding debts to the institution. What you may not know is among the delinquents is the Government of Belize itself. Doctor Andre Sosa says GOB owes the hospital about […]
The K.H.M.H. has been in emergency mode for a few months now as the country continues the fight through its third wave of the pandemic. While the numbers are not the highest experienced so far, Doctor Andre Sosa, the Chair of the Board of Governors of the K.H.M.H.A. says that there are twenty-seven hospitalizations at […]
It is difficult to compare Belize’s COVID co morbidity-related deaths to those of other countries because no country is sharing those statistics in their COVID mortality reports. But Belize’s COVID mortality rate is high. The data for Belize shows that from August first up to last week Friday, there were ninety deaths from COVID-19. Half […]
