Any of us who've dealt with the public healthcare system know how challenging it is to get medical imaging services - like Xray's, "CAT scans" and ultrasounds. But, a new agreement may change that. Today, the Minister of Health and the Government of Taiwan signed a project to improve the Medical Imaging Services in Belize.
The 2.1 million US dollar project targets the two regional public hospitals and the KHMH where two physicians will be trained to become radiologists. There will also be training for radiographers and X-Ray technicians. And, the project will be digitizing medical imaging equipment in the three hospitals and the development of a standardized radiological information system. And Ambassador of Taiwan to Belize Remus Li-Kuo Chen made a point to say the new system would never have been possible without the nationwide establishment of Digi's fiber optic system.
Here's more from the signing today at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan:
Hon. Pablo Marin, Minister of Health
"What we are signing today is to use technology to do ultrasound and imaging, what we are doing, we are using two main regions which is Orange Walk and here in Belmopan and having the mother base in KHMH. We are using fiber optics from BTL for us to be able to link all images. So, whenever there is an ultrasound being done in Orange Walk or here in Belmopan, if a technician is doing it, then a radiologist at KHMH will be seeing the images and can tell us what is happening in that image. So, that is a big advance for Belize is doing right now. The main reason, a lot of our patients, can't afford to do an ultrasound and when a technician is doing the ultrasound the doctor would always refer them to a specialist which is the radiologist and that would be out of the public sector. So, now as we speak we are working on that technology and soon to be implementing that."
"The cost is about 2.6 million US. Taiwan is giving 1.6 million, Belize is giving about 500 thousand and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital will be giving another 600 thousand. All of this is in US and the implementation will last a year and a half for us to be able to use these facilities."
"About three, four years ago we had some ambulance being given and the old ones are already down. Right now we are sending one to southern region; another one is coming for the southern region and the next one will be for here in Belmopan and the next one for Cayo. So, it is four new ambulances coming into the country, at a cost of seventy-thousand per ambulance."
"Vehicles are always needed in the country and if you know the time and the wear and tear of the vehicle. About 3-4 years ago we had some ambulance been given and the old ones are already down. Right now we are sending one to southern region, another for southern region, the next one will be for here in Belmopan and in Cayo. So its 4 new ambulances coming into the country at a cost of about $70,000 per ambulance."
H.E. Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Taiwanese Ambassador
"The capacity building project for the prevention and control of chronic renal failure in Belize has concluded in August this year. More than 35,000 Belizean people received a health education of CKD. Ten medical staff members were trained and more medical officers, nurses and community health workers of Belize joined different workshops through this project. It's also a very important relationship between ICTF and BTL which help paved the way for this project, because without the nationwide installment of the fiber optics, I don't think this project will be possible. In the future, medical images, for example, x-rays and ultrasounds services for patients in maybe western, northern, Belize City or in Belmopan, different regional hospitals could be sent to KHMH for medical use, through the innovative system provided by this project saving cost and time of everything, for the government and the patients."
The Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund will be the implementing agency for this project.
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