Health - Channel 5 Belize

Stella Maris Students Receives Care Packages

Today, the students at Stella Maris School received care packages during a brief handing-over ceremony. Each package included personal care items, a bag, and a water bottle. This generous gesture was made possible through a collaboration between the school and four other organizations. News Five’s Paul Lopez was on the scene at Stella Maris and filed this report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Today, every student at Stella Maris School received care packages to take home. These thoughtful gifts were donated thanks to a collaboration between UNICEF, the Belize City Council, the Social Security Board, and the Lions Club.

Sheree Salgado, Teacher, Stella Maris School

“Each student received a package today; each boy and girl and we also have some over so that we can store for them so that when they don’t have, we have for them.”

Paul Lopez

“How important is this support?”

Sheree Salgado

“Very important because we know where these students come from, we know the background of some of these students, we know the parents and so it is very important.”

Sharry Castillo, Treasurer of the Sub Umbra Florio Lions Club, explained that the decision to donate hygiene packages came from a desire to break away from the usual school supplies.

Sharie Castillo, Treasurer, Lions Sub Umbra Florio Club

“We always give school bags and we have back to school drives and they are nice initiatives. We tend to look beyond school bags. There are needs that kids have which parents cant provide and as donors, the Lion, we serve. So we tend to look more beyond a school bag and we felt like the care packages will be best for the students at Stella Maris.”

The Belize City Council and the Social Security Board chipped in financially to help procure the supplies handed out today. We got insights from Mayor Bernard Wagner and Vanessa Vellos, the Communications Manager at SSB.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“This is a very special occasion for us to be able to participate in an activity like this which really focus on these kids at Stella Maris. When asked to contribute to this event we were compelled to do it and so it was a pleasure to participate in this activity. We try to spread as much as we can across the city. There is so much schools in the city. Stella Maris is special for us given the circumstance. We as a municipality try to spread the little resources we have across the city and you can see that in the works we have been doing all across our city.”

Vanessa Vellos, Communications Manager, S.S.B.

“Stella Maris as you know represents a school that caters to the children who have special needs at times. So, we received the request and we decided to give them a cash donation of five hundred dollars. That was given from our SDA account. So that is our role in today’s activity. We gave a cash donation and we also gave a donation of some cross body bags and some bottles, and some water bootless. It was just to give something extra beyond what we already gave them.”

Sheree Salgado

“We know where these students are coming from. Some of them are not able to buy something as simple as a deodorant. It is very important that, we don’t want it to stop here we want others to jump on it and continue to support our students.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Let’s Talk Menopause!

International Women’s Month is ending and earlier today, women from all walks of life gathered to openly discuss the often-taboo topic of menopause. The event, filled with heartfelt stories and expert insights, aimed to break the silence and provide much-needed support and education on this natural phase of life. Attendees left feeling empowered and more connected, ready to embrace the changes with confidence and understanding. With more on today’s forum, here is News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life, but it’s often surrounded by silence and stigma. It’s simply a natural aging process where the ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones, and monthly periods cease for twelve consecutive months. By talking openly about menopause, we can normalize the experience and break the taboo around this natural hormonal change.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director of Public & Wellness

“We do have over fifty, almost sixty health facilities across the country, at different levels. The first step would be going into one of these facilities, seeing the nurse and then seeing a medical officer. In terms of the symptoms that you have, the consultation will then involve looking at the symptoms and a lot of the menopause treatment is geared towards, essentially, alleviating symptoms.”

Menopause usually doesn’t happen overnight. The months or even years leading up to it are known as perimenopause or the menopausal transition. During this time, your ovaries’ hormone production can fluctuate. Perimenopause can last anywhere from two to eight years. Talking openly about menopause doesn’t just educate women; it also informs their families, friends, and colleagues about what to expect. This understanding can build empathy and support from everyone around them.

Dame Froyla Tzalam, Governor General

“My family will tell you, I have good days and I have bad days, to the point where my son now, in the morning he would say, “Mommy, you slept good last night? No hot flashes?” He knows about hot flashes. “Are you okay?” And it’s amazing that even somebody asking you, “Are you okay?” Sets the tone for the rest of the day because it means you’re not alone. To the point where I now have become a menopause bore, I will talk to people openly about it among my sisters, even among my family. There are seven of us, seven females.”

By fostering a supportive environment through open conversations, women can feel more at ease seeking help and discussing their symptoms with healthcare providers.

Rosanna Briceño, Special Envoy for Women & Children

“Menopause brings with it a complex array of experiences, but perhaps the most complex of it is the silence that surrounds it. We only see the signs. This lack of open conversation often leads to isolation, misunderstanding and missed opportunities for support. The few women that have expressed openly that they have no side effects and they have no clue what menopause is, God bless you sisters, totally.”

Talking about menopause helps women discover different resources, treatments, and strategies to manage their symptoms effectively. This can lead to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life.

Dame Froyla Tzalam

“I want to live until I am in my eighties, nineties, if I can, but I want to have a quality of life. I don’t want to be wheelchair bound or anything of that sort, so my commitment, my personal commitment to myself is that I need to be informed about menopause, I need to eat well, I need to exercise. Doing the right kinds of exercise, so it’s not just cardio anymore, it’s strength training, and, most importantly, talk to my family.”

Encouraging open conversations about menopause can help demystify the experience, offer much-needed support, and promote overall well-being for women navigating this phase of life. Isani Cayetano for News Five.

MOHW Warns Against Tainted Supplements

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is sounding the alarm about four dietary supplements making the rounds in Belize. The products in question are Arti King, Artibion, Artri Ajo King, and Vitafer-L. According to MOHW, these supplements contain hidden substances that could be harmful to your health. As a safety measure, the ministry is urging everyone to steer clear of these products. We spoke with Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa, the Director of Public Health and Wellness, to get more details.

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director, Public Health and Wellness

“There are about four of them, Artri Bion, Artri Kin and Arti Ajo Kinga and Vitafer-L. The first three was marketed as supplements that would help with arthritis or ache or pains, a general multivitamin or supplements that help the body function. And the vVtafer was marketed as a supplement that helped to lift mood and give energy and help with your day to day living. The ingredients these supplements have listed does not have that it is tainted with another medication. These other medications need a prescription for the ingredient not listed here. So Artri King has glucosamin, Vitamin C. Omega 3, but it does not have that it has an additional ingredient that can cause signs and symptoms. The ministry placed this press rlease out to warn the population not to purchase medication from social media or unauthorized dealers of pharmacies.”

MOHW Says Stop Taking Vitafel-L And Other Supplements

If you’re currently using any of the tainted supplements that the Ministry of Health and Wellness has flagged, Doctor Melissa Diaz-Musa urges you to stop right away. She emphasized that there could be serious long-term side effects. And for those selling these products, be warned—you could face fines.

Paul Lopez

“The Vitafer-L was being marketed as this energy or enhancement supplement, especially in the party scenes, among clubs and those who go out at night. What becomes of those persons pushing the Vitafer-L.”

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa, Director, Public Health and Wellness

“What happens at this point because the drug inspection unit did their surveillance and found that it is available in Belize, we have contacted these persons and removed all these medications and try to find the source as best as possible.”

Paul Lopez

“Could charges or fines be levied against individuals pushing these products?”

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa

“That is right, the ministry do have the Food and Drugs regulation that covers us. There are fines, minimal fines, that we have used before when we have persons with falsified products in the country.”

Paul Lopez

“What is the medical advise to individual that have consumed and been consuming these tainted supplements.”

Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa

“The first three has one particular medication and Vitafer has a separate medication. In terms of the Vitafer the best advice is not to take it. It can have side effects that can be very severe. We say do not take it at all but there is nothing you can do at this point. The others can cause long term side effects. So we would advise stop taking it and report where you got it from, try to work with the ministry of health to remove all from the vendors and shelves across the country.”

MOHW Launches Belize Health Sector Strategic Plan 2025-2034

Just nine days ago, the Briceño administration received a fresh mandate from Belizeans at the polls. Since then, Prime Minister John Briceño has reappointed Kevin Bernard as the Minister of Health and Wellness, with Doctor Julio Sabido returning as his Chief Executive Officer. Their first order of business? Launching the Belize Health Sector Strategic Plan 2025-2034. This plan lays out a vision for tackling key health system challenges in Belize. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more on this in the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has unveiled its Belize Health Sector Strategic Plan 2025-2034, a transformative roadmap designed to bolster Belize’s health system. This plan is built on three key pillars: strengthening leadership and governance, creating an equitable system, and promoting healthier lifestyles. The vision is to achieve a healthy and empowered population, supported by an equitable, efficient, and high-quality health system. The mission focuses on improving system governance and service delivery, while fostering partnerships to address national health priorities. Leading this ambitious effort is Kevin Bernard, who has been reappointed as the Minister of Health and Wellness.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“As the minister I want to see that we can achieve universal health coverage. I want to see that we can bring better service delivery to our Belizean people in health care, that as we roll out NHI that our people are benefiting from these services, we want to see more improved facilities across the country and that is my goal.”

Meeting the needs of a growing population with increasing health challenges is no task for one person. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Belize, followed by cancer and accidents. Mental health is also a top priority in the health sector strategic plan. To support Minister Bernard in bringing this plan to life, Doctor Julio Sabido has been reappointed as the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Dr. Julio Sabido, C.E.O, M.O.H.W.

“We are determined to ensure that every Belizean, no matter their socioeconomic status or where they live, has access to quality healthcare. Today’s launch is not just the end of a planning phase. It marked the beginning of a shared responsibility. This success of this strategic plan depends on all of us, public and private sector, national and international partners.”

Among the international partners present at today’s launch were representatives from the World Health Organization and the European Union, showing their support for Belize’s health initiatives.

Xavier Canton-Lamousse, Representative, European Union

“This plan is built on the foundation of inclusivity, sustainability and innovation and it aims to transform the health sector for the benefit of all Belizeans.”

Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, Belize Representative, PAHO/WHO

“Health is not solely the responsibility of the minister of health and wellness. Achieving the objective of the Belize Health Sector Strategic Plan requires collaboration across all sectors including health care, education, finance, social protection.”

Among all the goals in the strategic plan, the right to healthcare service stands out as the most empowering, especially for remote communities with little to no access. Minister Bernard highlights that this is where telehealth and telemedicine can make a significant impact.

Kevin Bernard

“Going into this term, our big agenda is to ensure there is telehealth and telemedicine. We want to ensure we reach the underserved population. We want to ensure that where we are unable to build a facility we can serve those people one way or the other. Talking about right to health, every Belizean have a right to access health care, at the primary care, secondary care and tertiary care level.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez

Bringing More Specialized Health Services to Belize

So, what’s the deal with those pricey, specialized healthcare services that we just can’t get here in Belize? Many Belizeans must pack their bags and head abroad to access these treatments, often shelling out tens of thousands of dollars from their own pockets. So, what’s the Ministry’s game plan to bring these services home? We had a chat with Minister Bernard to find out.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“One of the things as you know at least at KHMH we do these cardiovascular services. In the country we may not have all the necessary human skills to have this high-level treatment addressed. But what we need is prevention, to ensure that people live healthily. So it starts from the core. It starts with the policy we set out, the nutrition policy, the healthy earing in schools, staring with our young. I think once we implement and enforce these things people will live healthier lives. The plan speaks about healthier lifestyles, people habits are changed and turning these things around. Of course, accessing levels services in Belize is difficult. So, people have to go out. But it is our vision that at some point Belize can offer these services.”

Fake MOHW Survey Seeks Staff Opinion on Bernard and Sabido

Earlier this week, a survey popped up in the Ministry of Health and Wellness staff WhatsApp group, asking everyone if they were cool with Kevin Berard staying on as Minister and Doctor Julio Sabido as C.E.O. The message said the minister wanted to be open and inclusive about a big decision coming up. But then, the ministry’s Facebook page dropped a bombshell – the survey was fake! Today, we caught up with Minister Bernard to get the scoop on what really went down.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“I got wind of that after I was called to say if I knew about it. I had no idea about that specific survey. I think it is malicious by nature. I think there was games being played and it is obvious that somebody was trying to get after or create a division between myself and my CEO. That is not happening. I hold good confidence in my C.E.O. We have been working very closely to ensure we lead this ministry, and it is not only myself and my CEO, we have good people, a good management team. Look at what is happening today with Doctor Chel who is now our director of policy and planning. We have Dr. Musa, Dr. Polanco and all the other deputy directors and the leading technical advisors in the country. So I refuse to respond to negative issues when it comes to that. I think that is past gone and we are moving ahead. The prime minister has appointed me as the Minister of Health and I supported the reengament of Dr. Sabido as my CEO because I know we have been able to work together.”

MOHW Minister Supports CEO’s Reappointment

As you heard, Minister Bernard is backing Doctor Julio Sabido’s reappointment as the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Back in 2022, critics weren’t too thrilled about Sabido’s appointment because he was seen as a junior member of the team and hadn’t led any regional teams yet. So, he’s back now, but did that come after some tough talks between him and the minister?

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“Doctor Sabido and I have had great discussions. I know when I just became the minister, I did not know Doctor Sabido. We got to know each other. We worked very closely together so it was not a difficult task to say I fully support Doctor Sabido. And, as I said to him, we are here to work and ensure that the Belizean people get a better health system and a ministry that would work for each other. At the end of the day we serve the Belizean people we want to ensure that we are here to do our job and ensure the Belizean people benefit from the decisions we make as a government and ministry so that we can always look back down the road and say we place in a better position than we found it.”

Mental Health Policy to See Adjustments

As part of the new ten-year health strategy, there’s a big change coming to the mental health policy. Minister of Health Kevin Bernard says it’s crucial for better addressing the needs of those facing mental health challenges. He talked about a policy that goes beyond just hospitalizing people – it’s about helping them access the services they truly need.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“There are several things that we are working on in terms of not just to focus on the institutionalization, but to look at the programs and activities that we need to do. We have to ensure that the wellness side of ministry starts to become more active in terms of making people understand and be part of the different programs because mental health is not just the notion of people being, as you will say, belongs in a home, but it’s all about many of us walking around this country. And you might never know what is affecting him or her. And so we have to ensure that people have access to seek attention, to seek services. And that’s what we want to do in this ministry, to ensure that mental health remains a focal point in our agenda and in this strategic plan that is highlighted there where people have access to the services.”

New Central Medical Store Being Built

Besides the services that mental health patients will need, there’s also a need for new infrastructure and a Central Medical Store. The Minister explained that this facility was already under construction before the elections.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“Through the Ministry of Finance and the Government, there were plans that we had identified there was the need, I’ve been saying, I said this even in an interview long before that there is a need for us to build a proper Central Medical Store that will have the necessary systems in place and because right now, as you know, Jules, many of the suppliers house our supplies and storage is limited. So the point is that we want to centralize this so it’ll be proper manage as well. We’ll put in all necessary software that will come: warehousing, accounting, distribution, software so that it is properly managed and works along with the BHIS system. And so that at the end of the day, it’s much more a control, environment, that will have the more updated systems that will be able to manage and track these supplies and medical equipment that come into the country to be able to provide the services.”

Reporter

“But is this building being built or is it contracted to be built by an entity which happens to be also one of your largest medical providers, your lot of pharmaceutical providers?”

Kevin Bernard

“I’m not sure who had the contract that was done through the Ministry of Finance. I can’t tell you the full details of that. I’m not too sure who actually is building the facility.”