Press Release – Belize Press Office Belmopan – December 8, 2011 – The Ministry of Health is conducting laboratory training this week for the staff of the Western Regional Hospital, Central Medical Laboratory, San Ignacio Laboratory and La Loma Luz Hospital. The training focuses on the isolation of food samples that will better assist with food- borne disease surveillance.
The training covers the identification of a wide scope of microorganisms that cause food borne diseases. It also looks at improving the early detection of cases using surveillance and sampling techniques for collection amongst those who are affected.
Englebert Emmanuel, National Surveillance Officer in the Ministry of Health explained that this training will also help to prepare and increase surveillance and laboratory response. It will assist the doctors and nurses to better care and manage cases at health care facilities across the country. It will also develop and execute the relevant public health interventions and programs to decrease the burden of the disease across Belize.
The training runs from December 5th – 10th at the Western Regional Hospital and the Ministry of Health headquarters in Belmopan.
The training is being carried out with the support of Dr. Lisa Indar, Microbiologist Specialist from the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC), Trinidad and Tobago.
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For More Information contact:
Englebert Emmanuel
National Surveillance Officer
Epidemiology Unit
Ministry of Health
