Health
Island Donors Squad holds first Blood Drive
On Saturday, April 6th, the newly formed coalition Island Donors Squad (IDS) held its inaugural blood drive at the Ambergris Hope Hospital in downtown San Pedro. Island resident Tacogirl Laurie Norton, who has ten years of experience in helping to organize blood drives, spearheaded the event. The goal was to increase blood collection in San Pedro, and the drive was a success, collecting 11 pints of blood.
Health
Island Donors Squad advances blood collection on Ambergris Caye in Belize
Ambitious goals for increasing blood collection on Ambergris Caye have been established by the newly formed coalition of the Island Donors Squad (IDS) on Ambergris Caye. Tacogirl, Laurie Norton, is bringing her ten years’ experience in island blood drives to team with Ambergris Hope Hospital and The Rotary Club of Ambergris Caye to establish the foundation of IDS. Working closely with Belize National Blood Transfusion Services (BNBTS), the goal is to increase blood collection and related services on the island and beyond.
Community and Society
Island Emergency Services is now offering free services to Belizeans
The management and team of Island Emergency Services (IES) has announced that its ambulance services are now free of charge for Belizeans on the island. IES is a private 24-hour emergency company funded by Mr. Abner Bacab, and it is equipped with ambulances to respond to medical emergencies on the island. This decision comes from IES’ commitment to the well-being, health, and wellness of all local community members and providing professional, pre-hospital care for those in need.
Health
Washington University of Health and Science hosts Medical Fair in San Pedro
A team from the Washington University of Health and Science (WUHS) provided free medical health screenings at the San Pedro Central Park on Saturday, March 16th. Fair organizers partnered with the Belize Diabetes Association and the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, offering residents complimentary medical services such as diabetes screening, blood pressure, Malaria testing, HIV testing, and Body Mass Index. Emergency response services were also available throughout the event.
Health
San Pedro Community Blood Drive team collects 17 pints
On Saturday, March 16th, a blood drive was held at the Washington University of Health and Science (WUHS) facilities, located south of downtown San Pedro. The San Pedro Community Blood Drive team organized the event and received a very positive response. Seventeen pints were collected, benefiting the island community and the country.
Health
A wave of Flu infections affecting San Pedro residents
San Pedro Town has been experiencing a wave of acute respiratory infections, which are suspected to be the flu. Speculated to be the COVID-19 virus, reports from the Public Health Inspector's office at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II suggest that most cases are due to the common seasonal flu. As a precaution, the public is encouraged to wash their hands frequently and wear face masks, particularly in crowded places.
Health
National Health Insurance coming to San Pedro in July
Belize's National Health Insurance Program (NHI) is set to roll out in San Pedro Town and Caye Caulker Village in July of this year. Established in 2000 through an amendment to the Social Security Act, the integral healthcare program is slowly being implemented nationwide. The announcement that the NHI will soon be available to island residents was made during the ground-breaking ceremony of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital on Friday, March 1st.
Government
Construction of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital commences with a groundbreaking ceremony
Residents and visitors of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are one step closer to having reliable healthcare services. More than a year after the official announcement of the San Pedro and Caye Caulker General Hospital, the Government of Belize hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, March 1st, to mark the start of construction. This $33 million project is made possible through a grant from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
