Health - Channel 5 Belize

Good Samaritan Donates 102 Pints of Blood in 30 Years

Blood is essential for every living person. It plays a crucial role in delivering oxygen and nutrients to our bodies and defending against harmful microorganisms. In medical emergencies, a shortage of blood can be life-threatening. That’s why having a steady supply of blood donors is so important for the health of our community. In tonight’s edition of Belize on Reel, we shine a spotlight on Ronald Stuart, a remarkable Belizean who donated his hundred-and-second pint of blood earlier this month. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us his inspiring story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Seven years ago, I was diagnosed with anemia. My doctors told me my hemoglobin count was at a six, less than half the average level for females my age. At just seventeen, I had to undergo a blood transfusion. The hardest part of this ordeal wasn’t the large needle or the long hours at the hospital but finding willing donors. If it weren’t for the generosity of Samaritans like Ronald Stuart, my life might have turned out very differently. While he wasn’t one of my donors, Ronald has donated an incredible one hundred and two pints of blood to the Belize National Transfusion Service over the past thirty years.

Ronald Stuart, Blood Donor

“My first donation was in July of 1995, and my most recent was earlier this month, and I can give only once every three months, and it has been something that I am committed to do as long as I’m able to, because there is a need and we need to have more persons who are willing to assist because from time to time, we’d hear about persons making appeal for blood donations, but blood can only come from other human beings. So we need to be a part of making sure that the adequate supply continues to be available.”

Stuart’s journey as a blood donor began when a few coworkers encouraged him to join them in donating. Hearing heartfelt gratitude from families in need inspired him to dedicate his life to this noble cause. Nowadays, his phone is constantly buzzing with texts and calls from strangers desperate for blood. And whenever he can, Stuart is always ready to step up and help.

Ronald Stuart

“One was a foreigner whose father was in Karl Heusner, and it so happens when I came, the nurse told me that someone with your name, the spelling was different was looking for somebody for blood, but didn’t know anybody who could give. And so I told her, I said, okay I’ll give on behalf of that person. She told me afterwards that person literally cried because we have the same sounding name. And when she was experiencing need and seeking blood for her father, I showed up.”

Stuart suggests keeping a list of at least five people in your contacts who are ready and willing to donate blood on your behalf. This way, you’re prepared for any unexpected health emergencies. Adrian Martinez, the supervisor at the Belize Blood Bank, assures us that becoming a donor is a straightforward process.

Adrian Martinez, Supervisor, Belize Blood Bank

“U sually we request for blood. blood donors to be have a clean health status, right? You need to be healthy, no medications. And we do ask some questions on travel history, and then any immunization. The questionnaire is divided into three different sections. Most of the donors need to be eighteen years old and above, up to sixty-five. You need to have a valid identification card. The questions and answers. Depends on your answer, then you might be temporarily deferred or temporarily or permanently deferred.”

The blood bank uses fourth-generation tests to screen for HIV, all subsidized by the Ministry of Health. Stuart treats every donation as if it’s his first, always making sure he’s in the best possible health to give blood. He even revealed that he hasn’t touched a soda in the last fifteen years.

Ronald Stuart

“First and foremost, being very active not necessarily going to the gym, but being physically active. I do a lot of walking I’ve been I signed up for the million steps challenge that the Belize Diabetes Association has initiated. And between the 2nd of January and the 16th of April the challenge is to complete a million steps or five hundred miles. So I have embarked on that. That’s one way. Eating very healthy minimizing the carbohydrates, drink a lot of water and adequate rest.”

Each year, the blood bank collects around seven thousand units of blood, which accounts for less than five percent of Belize’s population. Belize aims to reach a point where one hundred percent of its blood supply comes from voluntary donors. This goal is crucial for maintaining a safe blood system and offering various services at different locations.

Adrian Martinez

“When we go about, we go recruiting for voluntary blood donors. That means the blood we collect is donated free to the blood bank so that we could help others. You can be a voluntary blood donor. You don’t really have to donate for someone else because the emergency strike at different times and is It is our mandate to have blood in reserve for the general populace. By donating voluntarily, you are helping someone, you are providing a safe blood supply for our country, and then you are doing your part as a Belizean.”

Seven years after my blood transfusion, my hemoglobin count is a healthy thirteen point seven, and I’ve even become a blood donor myself. Stuart, the interim president of the Belize Blood Donors Association, is a true champion of this cause. When he’s not busy donating blood, he’s out there encouraging others to join him in the life-saving mission.

Ronald Stuart

“In most instances, the day that I’m here to give, I’m already thinking about the next three months that I’m scheduled to return and look forward to it because it is so critical for viewers and those who are listening to this newscast and this piece to understand. How much we have a role to play in making sure there’s an adequate supply. Somebody has to do it. And why not that person being you?”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

U.D.P. Shadow Minister of Health Gives PUP A Health Report Card

The United Democratic Party’s Shadow Minister of Health is Carlos Perrera, a name that might ring a bell. He previously served as the Director of Finance at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. Although his departure from the hospital over a decade ago was under less-than-ideal circumstances, he was never found guilty of any wrongdoing. Now, he’s back, championing the U.D.P.’s cause in the health sector.

Carlos Perrera, U.D.P. Shadow Minister of Health

“What is their report card/ Let us talk about the report card of the PUP since they got into power. It is very lengthy, I wont bore you. But the first hit they got was in February 2021 where several organizations clamored for better health care in PG and Placencia, because the Placencia Polyclinic was abandoned. In August 2022, nurses walked out of the Northern Regional and Corozal Community Hospital. In October 2022, the Southern Region voiced their concern to the ministry of health on medical supplies. October 2023, a continues allegation of neglect in our regional hospital. On April 2024, a neglect of allegation by patience at the Northern Regional Hospital, the backyard of the prime minister and the minister of health. Imagine that, you are the minister of health and the prime minister of this country and you have patients claiming neglect in the northern regional hospital. It should be a shame. Continuous chaos as we heard in 2024 where there were shortage of equipment and medicine at KHMH. We heard the CEO of KHMH talk about being blind sided by the workers union out of grievances, guess she was lost.”

We will have more from the press conference later on in our newscast.

COVID Payments Still Being Paid Under Sickness Benefits

While the COVID pandemic hit Belize hard starting in March 2020, claims for the virus surged throughout 2021 and 2022. Although COVID is no longer a major threat to the general population, Almendarez mentioned that payments are still being made to COVID patients. He explained that these claims fall under sickness benefits.

Dr. Leroy Almendarez, C.E.O, Social Security Board

“The prevalence was more around 2020, 2022, something like that because even though we all know that since, there has been a decline, it has not gone to zero. What we also have is really a distribution of the number of different diseases that when it comes to the short term branch and sickness benefit claims, but it’s not that we have stopped, every claim is assessed because at the end of the day, we have a responsibility to make sure that whatever monies are paid out, it’s because they should be paid out.”

Belize Continues Cattle Export as Screwworm Cases Increase

Belize has reported its fifth case of New World Screwworm just under a month after the first case was identified in the Toledo District. News Five has confirmed that four of them were discovered in cattle and the fifth in a dog. With the cattle industry being one of the largest contributors to Belize’s exports, there are concerns about the potential impact if infections aren’t contained. However, Prime Minister Briceño reassures everyone that there’s no need to worry—protocols have been put in place, and Mexico is still accepting cattle from Belize.

Prime Minster John Briceño

“It is expected. We did not bring the screwworm it is a stupid mistake done in Panama when they released the insects in error and that progressively came to us. They didn’t put enough effort to stop it back then. Now it is here and we are trying our best to contain it. What is important is that we are worked out a protocol with the Mexicans on how to export our cattle. This is not something that affects the meat. If you see the animal with the screwworm you cure it and five days later it is a healthy animal. So the plan is we have a coral area where we inspect the animal in Belize and it goes over to the Mexican side and they inspect. If they see any animal with signs of screwworm, they send it back, we cure it and five six days later we can send it back.”

Port Clinic Closed; Patients Can Go to Matron Roberts

Today, our newsroom received a complaint that a mother and child were turned away earlier this week from receiving medical attention at the Belize Medical Associates clinic on Regent Street. The Port Loyola resident had gone to the N.H.I. facility for medical help because the Port Loyola Health Center is closed for repairs. However, the downtown clinic was reportedly overcrowded, and they were denied assistance. News Five reached out to B.M.A., National Health Insurance, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness for a response and clarity on the matter. Both N.H.I. and Medical Associates explained that in emergency situations, no health facility would deny treatment. However, for other services, there are specific facilities that people need to go to. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

A complaint by a mother of a young child that her baby was denied medical treatment at a privately-run facility that offers N.H.I services has been flatly denied by facility and N.H.I. The report is that the mother was turned away amidst a crowd that was waiting to see a doctor. The mother, a resident of Port Loyola, had gone to the downtown facility because the Port Loyola Clinic had been temporarily closed for repairs. But both the privately-run clinic and N.H.I have said that their investigation of the incident has revealed something different. Dr. Victor Rosado is the chairman of the Belize Medical Associates’ Board of Directors.

On the Phone: Dr. Victor Rosado, Chairman, B.M.A Board

“This was a woman who – a patient from Port Loyola Health Center, who called us to see if we can read her results at BMS outside NHI clinic, and I think you have knowledge of how the NHI clinics work. You need to be registered with that clinic, and so my manager has told you that that patient was told she should go to more than likely Matron Roberts because the ministry had closed down the Port Loyola clinic. If you’re not registered and you go in with results from another clinic, because everything is computerized, it will be very difficult for them to give you proper service. These patients need to be seen within the public system if they are not registered under NHI. If they are registered under NHI, then they need to go to their NHI clinic.”

We reached out to Dr. Ramon Figueroa, the general manager for National Health Insurance. He explained further how the N.H.I. system operates.

On the Phone: Dr. Ramon Figueroa, General Manager, N.H.I

“If you’re registered with Matron Roberts, really, all your information is at Matron Roberts, and you should be seeking attention at Matron Roberts. You can request a transfer to one of the other clinics because that’s the way it functions. We need to have the information on the registered members so that we can track the use of all the referrals for labs, pharmacy, and so on. Port Loyola is a registered provider under Maitland Roberts. So if you are registered at Port Loyola, you’re literally are registered at Maitland Roberts. So your preferred provider is Maitland Roberts. And that should have been explained to them.”

Dr. Rosado emphasized that if it had been an emergency instead of just a lab result request, B.M.A would have had no choice but to step in and help.

On the Phone: Dr. Victor Rosado

“B.M.A would never turn away someone who, like I said, is in an emergency situation. All health facilities, I believe that is in the Hippocratic Oath, that nobody will be turned away in event of an emergency.”

Dr. Melissa Musa, the Director of Public Health and Wellness, told News Five that the Ministry of Health is committed to making sure everyone gets the primary medical care they need, even if they’re not registered with NHI.

Dr Melissa Musa, Director, Public Health & Wellness, MoH

“We’re rolling out the National Health Insurance. And in this rollout, more and more people are able to register for National Health Services. And so what we are saying at this point is that if you are registered at any provider, so there are numerous providers in the Belize district, you should attend to those clinics that you are registered at. If you are in that thirty percent that you’re not registered as a provider, we do have Matron Roberts, and we have Cleopatra White. So Matron Roberts is what we call a dual facility. So we see registered National Health patients registered for that service and we have patients who are not eligible for that service and are seen as well and provided with care, medication, labs, whatever else is needed at Mitron Roberts. Now Cleopatra is solely a government facility. We’re not selling any services through NHI. So, anybody not registered at, at any NHI facility are, they’re free to come to Cleopatra White for care as well.”

Dr. Musa shared that the Port Loyola clinic offers both outpatient and mental health services. She assured that patients needing these treatments will soon have access to them again.

Dr. Melissa Musa

“In the near future, we will more than likely. We have a team with the Welcome Resource Center, which is run by the Mental Health Association, we’ve met with them. They have a building on the end of Vernon Street, a very nice building and we’re able to put our resources together and provide even better care for the community who suffers with mental illness.”

Dr. Musa mentioned that contractors are currently evaluating if the Port Loyola Health Center can be repaired or if they’ll need to construct a brand-new facility. Marion Ali for News Five.

New NHI BMA Clinic Opened in Belama

On Thursday night, the Belize Medical Associates team and the Ministry of Health celebrated the grand opening of the brand-new BMA N.H.I. Clinic in Belama Phase Two. This primary care clinic offers a wide range of services, from treating everyday ailments like colds and flu to addressing more complex health concerns. The clinic has been serving patients since it opened its doors in December and was officially inaugurated one month later. News Five’s Britney Gordon was at the ceremony to bring us more details about this exciting new healthcare facility.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize’s National Health Insurance is broadening its reach with the opening of a brand-new health facility in Belama Phase Two. The Belize Medical Associates N.H.I. Clinic has been offering primary care to patients since it opened in December. On Thursday, an official ceremony was held to welcome the clinic to the community. Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard shared more about this exciting new endeavor.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“NHI is a service that we’re providing primary care services to our population. And as you know, we are, we are rolling out N.H.I. in the other parts of the country and here in the northern part of Belize district in the Belize city area especially where BMA was able to win the tender. It’s where we can make access to more quality health care. While we have our public facilities, we also need to ensure that citizens have access to other services within the private sector. And this is how the partnership is built.”

The clinic, on Albert Hoy Avenue in Belama Phase Two, is a testament to the strong partnership between the National Health Insurance (NHI) and Belize Medical Associates (BMA). Dr. Victor Rosado, the chairman of BMA’s board, proudly shared that this clinic is the fruit of their well-established collaboration.

Dr. Victor Rosado, Chairman, Board of Directors, B.M.A.

“Belize Medical Associates has been with N.H.I. from its inception in 2001 when it was N.H.I., what we call the South Side City Pilot Project. And Belize Medical Associates started at that time with a clinic on Regent Street and fast forward twenty-four years, when they announced that they would have N.H.I. on the north side of the city, we tendered last year. We won the tender and we started building this clinic. And in December of last year, we opened our doors. And today is just the official opening of the Belize Medical Associates N.H.I. Belama Clinic”.

The clinic boasts a dedicated team of about ten professionals, including doctors, nurses, and specialists, all ready to provide top-notch care. According to Bernard, the clinic is ready to tackle common health issues and well as more complex services.

Kevin Bernard

“This is a primary care facility, so you will have when it comes to prenatal services, you have I mean normal common health issues, cough and cold is just the basic thing it will talk about. But there is also gynecology services, there is I understand that there is no In fact, you will see that they are even offering public health services. Well, it may not be part of the N.H.I. primary care contract, but they are making it available to their customers who come here. And so as you know, primary care is It can cover many other things, but the, the aspect of services ultrasound services, diagnostic services bloo, chemistry services are also offered here.”

The clinic is ready to offer services for up to twelve thousand participants in that area of Belize City and has already seen two thousand five hundred registrations in just two months.

Dr. Victor Rosado

“To register for N.H.I., all you need is a Belize social security card. That is all you need. Once you have a social security card and address, we can register you. Let’s say you live in Orange Walk. Let’s say you live in Cayo, but you work in Belize City. Then you can register with us because this is where you will spend most of your time. So you don’t necessarily have to live in Belama or in Belize City for all intents and purposes. So remember the goal here is for national rollout. So there will be N.H.I. this year in the entire country of Belize.”

Bernard stressed the importance of having more affordable healthcare providers throughout the country, so that every Belizean can access top-notch health services no matter where they live.

Kevin Bernard

“In layman terms, I would say it just costs a penny for you to access quality healthcare. Can you imagine a pregnant woman, as I said, can access, go to N.H.I., get his, get his her ultrasound and pay probably a fraction of that, which is about, sometimes in some cases, ten dollars, seven dollars, . Where would you have heard that that service would have been accessible before at that rate? While government is paying the service provider, through now the support from the Belize Boledo funds, we are now injecting money to help finance N.H.I. services, along with other funds that government, through the Ministry of Health, provides to N.H.I..”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Mole Infestation Closes Down Port Loyola Polyclinic

Patients who depend on the Port Loyola Polyclinic are dealing with major inconvenience after the health center in the southside community was shut down on Thursday. The closure was due to mold being discovered at the facility, leaving many without their usual healthcare services. Health Minister Kevin Bernard confirmed this during a recent event.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“ One of the things that we had thought very hard about the Port Loyola Polyclinic in closing it down because we needed to ensure that the safety of the patients, the safety of the doctors there were, there are some mold issues in that facility. , I mean, we live in an environment where there’s a humidity and heat at the same time, so we have to look at all of these things. But so far right now, I understand that we’re temporarily going to move those patients out to other facilities, and while we look at a new facility that will be able to provide the service there. So it is an urgent matter like I said, it’s not something we wanted to do, but to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we had to make that tough decision.”

Reporter

“They don’t know how long it may be out of service, so to speak.”

Kevin Bernard

“Of course, while the facility will be out of service, the residents will still have access to other facilities within that area that can get the same service that they were getting at Port Loyola. So we’re not blocking, access, but we are making sure they have access somewhere else while we look at whether a new facility, or upgrading that one and renovating it completely or relocating completely on a new facility.”

Reporter

“And the staff? Where is the staff?”

Kevin Bernard

“The staff will just be incorporated within the city, so there’s no threat to staff losing their job or anything. So they will be placed at other facilities where they need the service, where they need to do their part of their work. So, some will go to Central Health Region, some will be at Mitchell and Albert, some will be placed at the other facilities, Cleopatra and White.. So, there is work, a lot of work in healthcare. And so, one thing, one assurance I want to make that they are not to be worried, but they will have, and continue to do their job. And we will, as soon as we can get a new facility for that area, then we will do so.”

Heart Disease Belize’s Top Killer of 2024

Cardiovascular diseases have been a leading cause of death in Belize for the past five years, and according to the Ministry of Health, they were the top killer in 2024. The ministry warns that serious conditions like hypertension and enlarged hearts can be deadly, especially for those who smoke or indulge in too many sugary and fatty foods. Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard outlined the ministry’s action plan to combat this threat in 2025. Here’s more on that.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health & Wellness

“If you notice that Belize signed on to the HEARTS initiative last year. We launched the HEARTS initiative and it is very important that we address the issue of cardiovascular diseases that’s affecting our people, yes. And while it has been one of the highest, I believe it’s almost as in rank with the road traffic accidents that are also killing more people. And so we have to ensure that we’re eating healthy, we’re introducing healthy eating habits in the schools. As you know we’re phasing the issue of sugary bands in schools. We have to do that. We launched our nutrition policy, all about making sure people start to think and understand how you carry yourself, how you eat. So that we could start to live healthy. A lot of us drink the Coke every day. We eat a lot of sweet every day. We have to also look at our lifestyle and our eating habits. Growing up people feel like, Oh when you are, when you have a, a bigger weight. Then you’re more prone to heart attack, But you have younger people dying from heart attack. Because we have to look at the intake of food that we have, the type of fatty foods we are eating, and start to eat more healthier. And that’s one of the things that the ministry is working hard in ensuring that we push the healthy initiatives, not only in the schools, but at the workplace, at every facility that go to, everywhere we are around. Trying to eat healthy, and we’re encouraging people to follow the nutrition guidelines that we have set out as a nation as well to try and help that our people could start to eat much healthier and live happier and longer lives.”

Wife, Kidnapped and Beaten by Husband, Needs Expensive Surgery

On November sixteenth, Sabela Brakeman, a mother of three, endured a terrifying ordeal when her estranged husband, Kenny Brakeman, broke into her San Pedro home and kidnapped her. The harrowing sequence of events saw Sabela beaten and taken on a jet ski to the shores near Caye Caulker. Miraculously, she managed to escape by jumping off and swimming to safety. Though she survived, Sabela was left with severe injuries, including broken facial bones and loose teeth. She told News Five that a private surgeon estimated her surgeries would cost around twenty thousand dollars, and they can only be performed at a private hospital in Belize. Meanwhile, Kenny Brakeman remains at large, and Sabela lives in constant fear that he might find her again. Despite this, she is determined to move forward with her life. To help cover her medical expenses, Sabela is organizing a fundraiser with a barbeque sale this Friday in Bella Vista Village, where she now lives with her children. She needs your support to get the surgeries she desperately needs.

On the Phone: Sabela Brakeman, Kidnap Victim

“The doctor told me that he don’t do surgery and at KHMH they don’t do that kind of surgery. So he then recommended me to Dr. Hernandez, who told me that was the only doctor that do surgery in Belize for the type of facial surgery that I need. So, I went to Dr. Hernandez. He did an x-ray, then from there he sent me to Medical (Associates) to do a 3-D and in the result, it shows what all damage that I have. The estimate for Dr. Hernandez, just for doing surgery, would be $7,500 and then the three days, stay at Medical, and the medication that I would need, everything would be nineteen thousand, nine hundred and twenty dollars. So, I’m looking for assistance to see if anyone is willing to donate something towards my medical, my surgery. Are you doing, are you doing any fundraisers of your own? I plan to do a barbecue fundraising. And then we suffer Friday to see how much money I can do fundraising with so that’s the only plan I have right now, to try seek help and better get the money together.”

Belize Records No Deaths, Lower Dengue Cases than Predicted

As of the end of EpiWeek 50 last week, we’ve seen a total of one thousand, one hundred and sixty-six cases of dengue up to Saturday. Remarkably, there have been no deaths this year, which is a complete turnaround from the high dengue incidences we started with. National Surveillance Officer at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Myra Fernandez, told News Five that the success in this fight was due to effective interventions.

Myra Fernandez, National Surveillance Officer, MOHW

“We have only seen five cases of severe dengue; forty-three percent of those cases were really cases with no warning signs. We’re seeing that the Toledo, Stann Creek, and Cayo District recorded the highest numbers this far for 2024 with a total of 420 cases for Toledo, 341 for Stann Creek and 208 for the Cayo District. I would say that there is a really good program in place in terms of elimination of these mosquito breeding sites. There is also the chemical controller. We all know the ULV spraying that happens and other interventions that happens around each case that is investigated. Apart from that, there is a really good public health education campaign that happens along with the program. And then there is, of course, that community engagements that happen at the community level. So I would say that the response is very quick in terms of what is being done for dengue. So it’s a permanent program that the ministry has in place and we have the services available really countrywide. And that would probably add to why we did not see the numbers that we expected post Tropical Storm Sara.”