But what Belize City residents can look forward to is the rollout of NHI services in the northside. That's coming next year, but as of Wednesday, those services were launched in Orange Walk Town. And according to the minister, district residents have been taking full advantage of its availability.
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health
"I'm very pleased that on Wednesday, we were able to start the rollout of NHI services here at the three approved clinics so far here in Orange Walk and again, and from what I've been getting in reports yesterday and Wednesday, the people here are already taking advantage of it, I mean, I understand that we have over 23,000 persons already registered here in the district so you will see that people are taking advantage of these services. NHI allows our pregnant mothers, our females, to get mammograms, to get ultrasounds, reasonable co payments, so you are getting also other quality care and services at affordable rates, and so this is really making sure that we have access to healthcare and that's the commitment of this government, just as we are planning to ensure that NHI rolls out in the Belize District and again, there's plans for us to again look at the fiscal space, how we are going to get the west, San Ignacio and Santa Elena and those areas also enrolled in NHI in the years to come. Now the Boledo is coming on December 1st and the revenues from that, most of it will be directed to NHI, many of it will also be directed to sports I understand, and some other charitable areas, social needs that we want to provide for our citizens so it is a great time, it is a great moment and ii really want to say that we herald and welcome the fact that we now have NHI, and we encourage people to come out and get registered, if you're not registered yet, please get registered."
