And with a startling number of deaths and hospitalizations - for both the vaxxed and unvaxxed - the PM decided to take an updated tour of the COVID unit. He visited it back in April while it was still empty, and just like back then, the media was not invited on today's tour.
Still, the PM told the Press Office about why he felt the need to visit the hospital at this time. He was accompanied by the CEO, Chandra Cansino, who explained that this was a great opportunity to let the PM know what the hospital's needs are.
Hon. John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I think it was important to come and take a first-hand look at COVID and the increase of COVID patients that continue to rise. Again, the staff has shown great ingenuity in moving things around, trying to find more spaces to bring more patients in to make it available for patients. It shows that with ingenuity and hard work and conviction, there is a lot that can be done. I also want to express and let our staff here at KHMH know that we also as a government have a responsibility to them to see and to ensure we can do our very best to ensure that they have the necessary tools, the equipment, the medication, and as much as possible the human resources to be able to fight this pandemic that has been affecting too many Belizeans right now. Our commitment is the KHMH, I will be meeting with Minister Chebat and talk to him about what are the plans to ensure we can continue to give the necessary support KHMH needs."
Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO, KHMH
"For the past few days I have learn a lot and I was happy to be able to have the opportunity to share some off our gravest concerns with him. We do have a challenge in regards to the financial status of the hospital. We are getting a lot of patients. These patients are not necessarily in a financial situation to pay these high bills and so those are some of the things that we discuss with him as well as the availability of resources that we need on demand that we are not able to sit and wait, so it was very good to have him here today to share some of those concerns."
