7 News Belize

KHMH @ 23
posted (September 17, 2018)
Since May, KHMH, the country's national referral hospital, has been going through a transitional phase after part of its ceiling fell in, and exposed that the roof over a third of the hospital's building was structurally compromised.

During that time, the hospital had to go into what it referred to as "emergency mode", where some of its non-emergency services had to be suspended until further notice, while contractors worked to repair the structural defects.

Well today, the hospital's administration announced that those repairs are almost nearing completion, and most of the suspended services has resumed. That's just in time for the hospital's 23rd anniversary, and we stopped by to speak with the CEO about the happy co-incidence. Here's what she had to tell us:

Michelle Hoare - CEO, KHMHA
"Today is the 23rd anniversary for being in this building, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital. It is a significant milestone for us because we have traversed a very long and hard journey over the years. We've faced a lot of challenges. We've overcome many. This year, I think the public is well aware of some of the challenges we faced with our structural facility. So, to be able to arrive at our goal to complete the physical structure, and be able to open back the service, is a tremendous milestone, apart from all the other services that we've been able to upgrade and build on, over the years. We've come a long away, and clearly, there's much more that we need to do. We're prepared to move forward, and to take this institution where it's supposed to be. Except for our surgical operating theatre, there is still one minor issue in terms of an area in the operating theatre, very minor. Once that's completed, then the operating services, we will open back the service to our full 5 operating theatres that we have. We'll be able to open full-scale operating room services in another 2 or 3 weeks."

Daniel Ortiz
"For this 23rd anniversary, what are some of the most important things that came to mind for you and the staff at KHMH?"

Michelle Hoare
"Well, the most important thing is to be able to say to the public today, as we celebrate our 23rd birthday, we are able - proud to say that we've reached the goal of preparing the services that were - how to say it. We had to shift, not really close services, but we had to shift and reorganize services. It created a problem in terms of access in some areas, but we are set and ready to go."

And as much today's event was a celebration of KHMH's longevity, it was also a chance for the staff and administration to say thanks to its partners for the years of collaboration. One such partner is the Cuban Government. Viewers are aware that Cuban medical practitioners have worked with the KHMH staff for over 2 decades to provide training and technical support. We also got a chance to meet the Minister's consul for the Cuban Embassy in Belize, and he gave a brief history about how this partnership with KHMH and its staff started, and how it has developed over the years. Here's what he had to say:

Orestes Hernandez - Minister Consul, Cuban Embassy
"Back in 1998, after a hurricane that slapped Central America, Cuba decided just to send doctors for that situation. But, after a year in the field, our late president, Fidel Castro, said, 'Why, instead of sending doctor, why don't we help them to train and form their own doctors and personnel. And since that time, we made arrangements and then, we began the project which we call the Latin American School of Medicine. This year, more 1,500 students have been graduating Cuba from all over the world, from the United States, to South Africa, from South America all the way to Asia. So, it's part of a project. It's a big project that we're talking about. So, then in 2001 or 2002, there was a specific agreement between Cuba and the CARICOM countries, to provide not only to train doctors, but also to provide assistance. So, today, in Belize, we have 2 different models of assistance. The first one is the Cuban Medical Brigade that is arriving to it's 28th anniversary. Thousands of Cuban doctors, nurses, technical staff etc, have been passing through Belize, in this recent 20 years. And besides that, we have trained more than 200 doctors from here, there in Cuba, as general practitioners. So, we're not here in Karl Heusner because we have an agreement with Karl Heusner. It's part of an agreement between Cuba and CARICOM countries. And then, this is like a general project, under which we provide that kind of assistance, and we train. And so, can you imagine that there are more than 200 kids that started in Cuba, and now they are serving to their country, which is our most important goal. When we form them, free of charge, we only ask them, get back to your country, and please be a servant of your people. That's what it is all about."

The KHMH CEO assures us that the final repairs to the remaining operating theatre will be finished in less than a month's time.

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