K.H.M.H. Receives Upgrades through B.T.B. Partnership

The Belize Tourism Board and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital have struck up an unexpected partnership in order to improve healthcare facilities and support Belize’s tourism industry. Both parties signed a Memoriam of Understanding for urgent repairs of the Accident and Emergency Unit. News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the K.H.M.H. and has the following story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital is about to undergo some much needed changes with the renovation of its Accident and Emergency Unit. According to KHMH CEO, Chandra Cansino, the department has been in need of these renovations since it was overwhelmed during the COVID pandemic. However, the hospital struggled to find funding to make the repairs. She spoke with us to explain what these changes will look like.

 

Chandra Cansino, C.E.O., K.H.M.H.

“This partnership with the BTB started actually maybe a little less than a year ago when we were approached about how the Belize Tourism Board, well the Ministry of Tourism could support the Coalition Memorial Hospital and taking into consideration that they have a priority for their visitors as well. And so we came up with the idea to renovate the accident and emergency unit simply because that is the area where all emergencies come and in the event of, a mass casualty or any unfortunate event that may involve visitors to Belize, we wanted to be able to make sure that we have it upgraded and fit for the use by the public.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What areas will specifically be targeted in this renovation?”

 

Chandra Cansino

“It’s specifically the Accident and Emergency Unit. What happened is this is the area that became the COVID unit during the pandemic. And so the Accident and Emergency Unit was moved from here to the clinics. And this area was the COVID unit. So it endured a lot of wear and tear, a lot of beating, a lot of use. Everything was new and so since then, nothing has been done to address the physical look as well as equipment that was used and needs to be replaced.”

 

 

According to Cansino, the project is still in its preliminary stages and has not secured a contractor as yet.

 

Chandra Cansino

“We have identified what needs to be done. So we submitted our wish list, as we would call it to the BTB because in these types of partnerships, it’s not really only what you want. You have to submit justification, your budget, your project, your plan. And so we submitted that and they approve a part of what we submitted. So we now need to sit down and prioritize and decide what exactly we will do first. And then we will be able to move to contractors.”

 

 

Cansino stated that over ten thousand dollars will be tendered during this process and will be used for repairs to the ceiling, floors and to upgrade equipment.

 

 

 

Chandra Cansino

“We followed a normal tendering process. I think it’s over ten thousand and we have to tender to the public. It is a very public, transparent process. We are audited every year by external auditors, so there is nothing for us to hide, and whatever we need to tender, we will be tendering for.”

 

 

 

Britney Gordon

“What areas of priority do you have for this project?“

 

Chandra Cansino

“The areas of priority are twofold. They’re physical, because I think you all saw when you came in how beaten and battered it is. So we want the appearance to people when they come into the institution.  People come here in emergencies and so they’re already in a vulnerable state and you want them to feel that they’re in a place that they can trust and that they will be treated nicely. And so that goes along with how the place looks. And so you certainly want to upgrade replace the broken tiles and the broken ceiling tiles paint the walls and change whatever we need to change so that we elevate the standard that we provide to OUT 3:25 the public.”

 

The Belize Tourism Board has undertaken several projects within the last few months in an effort to enhance Belize’s thriving tourism sector. Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler stated that tourism also includes ensuring adequate healthcare.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

“WE have invested in equipment and other things for different hospitals across the country, especially Karl Heusner. We’ve supported them through the diaspora unit with beds, wheelchairs, and other equipment that they needed. And so this is just an ongoing program that we have to uplift healthcare in the country. We are advocates for the hospital in San Pedro as well, because we know the value of having people have peace of mind when they come to the country. If anything should happen to them, they know that they’re going to be well taken care of.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.