Government to Establish a New University Hospital for Belmopan

A significant priority in the Ministry of Health & Wellness (MOHW) is to strengthen universal health coverage, which means that all Belizeans have access to the full range of quality health services they need. This should be accompanied by the fundamental strategy of “improving the quality of care,” which is one of the many underlying principles that made the Government of Belize consider the construction of another hospital in Belmopan. Apart from providing tertiary care services in a phased-in approach, it will also be the secondary care hospital, replacing the current structure of the Western Regional Hospital, which has deteriorated significantly.

Since the construction of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in 1995, the population of Belize has grown from 198,000 to 417,000. The KHMH remains the only tertiary care public hospital in the country, providing specialized care in surgery, neurosurgery, cardiology, neurology, and intensive care for adults and children, among other key areas.

sasters; therefore, this project will ensure an alternative for the evacuation of KHMH should the need arise. During every hurricane season, the MOHW encounters the challenge of identifying space to evacuate patients who need to remain hospitalized should a hurricane impact the city. It is, therefore, imperative to create a permanent alternative for evacuation; this is also an underlying reason for the new hospital project. The disaster mitigation strategy also demands that health facilities be climate resilient. This is an effort to help assure the continuity of quality health and human care before, during, and after extreme weather events.

This project will have a dual role as it will also be the University Hospital for the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Belize, which is currently being developed. It will represent the linkage for networking with the Caribbean and Central American subregion for the formation of human resources in health.

deportee from the USA, was gifted Mesopotamia to keep the UDP in the dark ages. His task is to hide all the scandals of the UDP but they are being exposed one by one.

Joe and Fonso, also, shouted foul…the PUP is doing things outside of planBelize. How dare the PUP not follow planBelize. The crass-minded duo challenged “let me see planBelize.” So Fonso starts reading to their few listeners. Ooops, yes…the PUP did promise a hospital in San Pedro and Belmo- pan among others…and they are delivering. It is easy to analyze. The UDP see meaningful Housing, Resilient Infrastructure, International accolades, historic unemployment, historic job availability, debt management, tourism boom, agriculture diversity, education reform, constitutional reform, women opportunities, MSMEs rise, BPO proliferation and FDIs everywhere. They see no UDP in government for any term during their lifetime and it hurts to their rotten core. The UDP bawl.

Prime Minister Signs Loan Agreement with Saudi Fund for Development to Construct Tertiary Hospital

On May 30, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño signed a US$45-million development loan agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) for the construction of a tertiary hospital in Belmopan. His Excellency Ahmed

Al Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SFD, signed on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The signing is part of efforts taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support developing countries and small island developing states like Belize to overcome sustainable development and climate change challenges. This agreement, therefore, emphasizes the kingdom’s commitment.

Witnessing the signing were Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations; Hon. Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness; Hon. Christopher Coye, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment; Mrs. Narda Garcia, CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister and Investment and H.E. Haisam Diab.

More than 200,000 citizens are expected to benefit from the new state- of-the-art medical facility which will provide both secondary and tertiary healthcare services. Additionally, the new facility will serve a dual role as the university hospital for the University of Belize’s Faculty of Medicine, providing an enabling environment to foster the growth and development of future medical professionals.

Belmopan is an ideal location for the hospital, which will not only serve residents of western and southern Belize but will also provide an alternative for the evacuation of patients from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital during natural disasters, should the need arise. This will ensure the continuation of medical services before, during, and after such events.

Prior to the signing, the delegations held a bilateral meeting during which H.E. Al Khateeb informed the Prime Minister that funding was also approved to the Government of Belize for the construction of a solar energy plant that will assist the country in meeting its energy needs using an eco-friendly energy source. The solar energy plant discussions also dovetailed on the advantage to continue promoting Belize

In 1995, the combined population for Stann Creek and Toledo districts was approximately 39,200; now it is 83,000. The Western Regional Hospital has been the support health facility for the southern health region. It is then essential to replace the current structure and make tertiary care services available and accessible to the residents of the western and southern districts. The establishment of some tertiary care, for example, intensive care, in this new hospital will bring improved, critical services for the population closer to home.

The MOHW is cognizant of the issue of human resources and the concern surrounding the staffing of the new facility; therefore, efforts are being made through bilateral agreements to recruit specialized human resources. The need for more human resources stems from the expansion of allied health services, along with the creation of relevant posts and the expansion towards 24/7 coverage in all district hospitals.

Belize City is prone to natural di- as an eco-tourism destination. Following an invitation from Prime Minister Briceño to participate in the upcoming Belize Investment Summit, scheduled for August 30 to September 1 in San Pedro Town, the Saudi Minister of Tourism committed the participation of government officials and private sector representatives from Saudi Arabia. serving Belize since 1957 as the longest continuous newspaper.

Since its establishment in 1974, SFD has implemented more than 700 development projects and programs worldwide. Belize is the 88th country to benefit from SFD funding for a development project.

The people and Government of Belize thank the people and Government of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia for their support, which will ensure that every citizen is afforded access to affordable and quality healthcare and healthcare facilities.

The MOHW recognizes the need to improve its readiness to respond to emerging and re-emerging diseases, which are currently global threats. Being able to react promptly to pandemics within the context of universal health coverage requires preparedness in the areas of human resources, laboratory strengthening, capacity building, surveillance, etc. The collaboration with the University of Belize in establishing a medical school and having this new hospital as the University Hospital will contribute to emergency preparedness.

It is envisioned that this hospital will become an enabling environment for the next generation of medical professionals, foster an atmosphere of learning and growth, and will be a huge source of inspiration not only for doctors and nurses but also for medical laboratory technicians, pharmacists, and other allied health personnel.

The Government of Belize and the Ministry of Health & Wellness are convinced that this investment will lead to improved healthcare for all Belizeans.

Founder: Rt. Hon. George Cadle Price, People’s United Party Leader Emeritus

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