Ministry of Health Receives US $1.8 Million Donation 

The Ministry of Health and Wellness received a one-point eight million U.S. dollar donation. This donation came from donors Edward and Patricia Lord, members of the Belizean diaspora, and Build Belize Incorporated. It consisted of equipment such as medical and birthing beds, defibrillators, patient monitors, infusion pumps, and vital sign monitors to be distributed across the country. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting 

For husband and wife, Edward and Patricia Lord, upgrading Belize’s healthcare system is a primary concern. Having worked in the US healthcare system for over ten years, the Belizean American couple understands the cost and effort it takes to elevate the standard of healthcare. With assistance from the Belizean diaspora and Belize Build Incorporated, the couple was able to gift the ministry over one million dollars worth of supplies. Health and Wellness Minister Kevin Bernard expressed his gratitude.

 

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“Let me first of all start by thanking Mr. Edward and Patricia Lord on their generous support and the people in the diaspora who also supported them. But it is their vision that really saw this through and we were happy to partner with them in terms of sourcing of the funding to get the shipping done. But definitely as the list of items, I cannot express how grateful we are as a country, as a people and as a ministry in receiving this very much needed equipment. As you can see, mentioned a lot of these things are going to help to improve service delivery to patients, not only at KT image, but across the country. And so it means a lot to us. When you talk about Additional ICU beds birthing beds, defibrillators patient monitors all these things that have been donated really equipment that is always in need and demand at our facility if we are to provide good healthcare.”

 

Although the handing-over ceremony occurred at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City, the equipment will be distributed to several health facilities across the country.

 

Kevin Bernard

“There’s a list of identified areas that I know when mister Lord they had visited, they know, they have identified specific equipment that should be going to And as I had said in my message that when I spoke to them initially they have asked that we ensure that some of these equipment goes exactly where they have been recommended where to. So some of them are in various parts of the country, Western region hospital or regions and community hospitals. I don’t have that list in terms of exactly what’s going where, but I know that they have identified what is needed, where it’s needed and how then, so my CEO will be working along with them. So we are working with the team to ensure that these things are distributed in a timely manner, so we don’t want them to be sitting in a container, but they are now, the next step is to get them deployed into where it needs to go, so that we can start to utilize these donations.”

 

Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, Anthony Mahler, said that while this donation will improve Belize’s ability to provide healthcare to visitors, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Belizeans is a priority.

 

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism 

“It just gives us more equipment to give better service in all our hospitals and public clinics and centers that we treat people. So not only for the tourists, for me, but we need to get these things and make the necessary investments for our people first. And then we will be able to do the rest for the tourists.”

 

As the donation came from members of the diaspora, Mahler reflected on the work Belizeans outside the country have done to ensure the well-being of friends and family in Belize.

 

Anthony Mahler

“The diaspora unit is a conduit for people all around the world to be able to support us back home here in Belize. Whatever they’re sending back. So it could be in terms of donations. We have gotten sneakers, we’ve gotten equipment like this. We’ve gotten food supply. We’ve gotten a lot of stuff  donated through Bill Belize and through the Diaspora Unit. The Diaspora already sends back close to two hundred fifty million through the official sources. That’s not the amount that comes through barrels and envelopes and suitcases and stuff like that. They contribute a tremendous amount. But these things are expensive to move. And so we did our part in terms of helping to raise the money for them to be able to ship it.”

 

Bernard said that the ministry will ensure that the equipment is properly stored and cared for. He hopes that more collaborations like this can occur in the future.

 

Kevin Bernard

“As I said, that we will make sure that these donated items are properly taken care of and distributed on a timely manner, so that, yes, we don’t want to see any of these things damaged. It took a lot of work, 1. 8 million U. S. dollars, close to 4 million dollars, and we need to ensure that these equipments are protected, but at the same time put to use. And that’s what we’re going to do.”

 

Reporter

“Will you be collaborating with them in the future?”

 

Kevin Bernard

“Absolutely. Of course, we are grateful to them, and as Minister Mahler also mentioned to Ambassador Murphy, who, again, through Build Belize Inc. And in support with the Lords we are very much open to ensure that we continue to collaborate. I know that as they mentioned, there were some little inks in between the whole process. It took 10 years for them to really get this to where it is now and those are the little things that we have to figure out. But at the end of the day, they have my support as a minister of health. They have my ministry support, and we are going to continue to lobby and accept things like these. Because at the day, it benefits not me personally, but it benefits the Belizean people.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.