Over 13,000 residents in the southern parts of the Stann Creek District and the Northern Toledo will start to enjoy better access to primary health care. That's after the Government of Belize and the European Union recently upgraded the Bella Vista Polyclinic 2 and the Independence Polyclinic.
The project was funded under the EU's Banana Accompanying Measures, and it included refurbishing of these clinics as well as the purchase of new medical equipment for them. The new facilities were officially inaugurated yesterday, and here's what the representatives of the Ministry Economic Development and EU had to say at the ceremony:
Katherine Mendez - Director/Deputy National Authorizing Officer, Bella Vista and Independence Polyclinic
"It is an honor to make these remarks at this special occasion, the opening of the Bella Vista and Independence Polyclinics, which was funded by the Government of Belize, and the European Union, through the Banana Accompanying Measures program. The combine projects also include the purchase of medical equipment, which
included an ambulance to improve the services to the independence catchment area. Under the Banana Accompanying Measures, there are 2 focus areas, the competitiveness of the banana industry, and social and economic diversification. This project falls under the social component, which focuses on improving the quality of, and better access to health, water, and sanitation facilities. One of the goals of the national authorizing office, in partnership with the European Union, is to identify interventions for the investment of EU funds. After a Government of Belize, a rural development strategy was developed, lengthy discussions were held with the Banana Growers Association. And they willingly agreed that funds should equally be distributed between the industry and the communities in the Stann Creek and Northern Toledo Districts. The focus of the social component continued to be health and education, as the previous Government of Belize, EU, Banana Support Program. The first phase of this building was done under the Banana Support Program. So, this is the second phase being implemented now. Road infrastructure was a new sector that was added to boost economic development. We encourage the communities of Bella Vista, Independence, and the surrounding communities to proud of the polyclinics, and therefore, take care of the facilities."
Nicolaus Hansmann - EU Representative
"The refurbishment and expansion of these 2 polyclinics, because this one in Bella Vista - and we go later on to Independence - and the medical equipment, for example, x-ray, laboratories, even an ambulance, has been funded with 1.7 million Belize dollars. That is more or less 850,000 Euros."
The communities expected to receive improved health services include Independence Village, Bella Vista Village and surrounding villages which include Trio, San Isidro, San Pablo, Bladder, Swasey and Monkey River.
