KHMH Receives Medical Supplies from US Government

It has been in existence since 1995 when the old Belize City Hospital was decommissioned. Twenty-seven years later, with a fixed subvention from the government and a growing number of patients over the years, the K.H.M.H. finds itself in dire straits having to balance its revenues verses its expenses, and particularly more so since the COVID-19 onslaught. So lately the hospital has found itself reaching out to ask for help, and today, the U.S. Embassy responded favorably to their request. News Five’s Marion Ali was on hand for a brief handing-over ceremony and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The US Government, through its embassy, today donated medical supplies to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital valued at forty thousand U.S. dollars. The supplies were placed on a wish list that the hospital had forwarded to the embassy.The favourable response by the embassy is one for which KHMH CEO, Chandra Nisbet-Cansino is grateful.

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino, CEO, KHMHA

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

“The duration of the pandemic burdened and challenged health systems all over the world, bringing some to the brink of collapse, and the KHMH was no exception. But thanks to an amazing team of dedicated staff, frontline workers, and generous people like you, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. This donation today is definitely a much-needed booster for our supply chain and will go a long way to meeting our daily of providing excellence in patient care to the public that we serve.”

For the US Embassy, represented by Major Anissa Johnson of its Military Liaison Office, it is a pleasure to be able to assist when hospitals make these kinds of requests.

Major Anissa Johnson

Major Anissa Johnson, US Military Liaison Office

“Through the US Southern Command’s Military Assistance Program that is how these supplies are facilitated – the donations are facilitated. COVID is likely going to be a thing that we live with for a while, so it’s these types of donations that would help prevent and likely mitigate the continued spread of COVID-19. There have been other donations – a field hospital that was donated a few months ago, ventilators and other medical supplies.”

But the list of needs keeps growing for the hospital. A major item that has seen the facility having to pass on its expenses to its patients is PPEs, or Personal Protective Equipment – those are the special outfits that cover the entire body – that doctors, nurses, other caregivers and cleaners must use each day to enter and work in the hospital since in this COVID era.

Chandra Nisbet-Cansino

“This is the first of what we hope to be a little bit more support that they will provide, and yes, certainly, the PPEs are on that list.”

Marion Ali reporting for News Five.