Last week the Ministry of Health inaugurated two much needed health centers in the Northern Health Region of Corozal. The clinics, located in Sarteneja and the San Pedro - Cristo Rey area, were financed through a $1.7 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank and will help to provide basic primary healthcare to about 4000 people. Officials from the Ministry spoke to the media during the unveiling.
Hon. Dr. Angel Campos - Minister of State, Health
"Well as you know, we at the Ministry of Health want to expand our coverage in all of Belize and expanding NHI is one of the priorities that we have between myself and Minister Marin. He started it, expanding it into Corozal Bay and Corozal North. This will be another center that will help Corozal North."
Hon. Pablo Marin - Minister of Health
"It's a dream come true, as we mentioned. Sateneja is the first one that we did yesterday. It's a cost of nearly over $800,000. The thing is that the clinic that they had before was an old one. Now the good part that we have developed through SIF a nice facility that can now capture the entire community in a better, better way."
Hon Hugo Patt
"I am particularly very happy with the achievement as one of the challenges that we have had particularly coming from rural communities is that there is a very difficult time whenever people don't have how to move. If you don't have a vehicle and there's an emergency and there's a need for any health assistance and you don't have a vehicle to move it takes a lot of time."
"And so whenever we're talking about sick children, whenever we have emergencies time is of essence, time is of importance and it can make a difference between life and death. And so having a facility that will make that will provide the necessary services for out people here in these areas in very important to me."
The centers are expected to contribute to the reduction of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Email
Print