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And in other major hospital news, today's Cabinet brief announces that after a "comprehensive study" of the KHMH by CABEI, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Cabinet endorsed a recommendation from the Ministry of Health and Wellness to build a whole new modern tertiary level patient-friendly hospital in Belize City. As we understand it, this facility would be built on the grounds of the old Bliss Nursing School, which presently adjoins the KHMH.
Today the Minister of Health explained that rather than tyring to fix the 30 year old KHMH, it will. Be less disruptive to build an entirely new facility:
Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health
"Remember this. It's that let's not get it twisted. It's KHMH that is going is required. A study was done by CABEI as you know. There's a study being done for Orange Walk Northern region, the Punta Gorda hospital and KHMH was it was also thrown in there because we were able to get the Saudis to do the one for the funding for this area."
"And so when that study was done and complete, it was either two option either we demolished where we are and build that that would disrupt services or build a new KHMH which basically build a new tertiary hospital. KHMH has served its time, it has outlived it's capacity. There is need for us to build a better facility for the Belize district."
"And so that has been the decision, the ministry supports that a new hospital be built. Whether we build it now at the current location where the old nursing school was or we look at the new area that is being suggested next to Eleanor Hall building where there's is a huge land space that you can build another tertiary hospital."
"We have to think, we have to think different, we have to think big. We also also have to look at the options whether the design will be upper floors or just as what KHMH is right now. Remember when you look at other hospitals around the region, you go to Merida there's not only those flat surface buildings, they are high rise hospitals."
"You just have to put in the necessary amenities for people with disabilities and special needs. And but however, we need to ensure that we start to think down the road. You have to start to think for the future that all the necessary service of a tertiary hospital be provided. Belmopan of course the reason for the tertiary facility here in Belmopan is not just only to support KHMH currently, but also to ensure that we have a quality tertiary facility that supports the south the west and so forth."
"So and then likewise they want, in case they release the city, will then focus on the north and the village district. So it's a long term plan that we are looking at and we are hoping that now that the Cabinet has made that decision, it goes back to Cobb, who will then come back to us and say, All right, this is what we believe the bank can afford to do, for this is what we go to the to the revision."
"Because from my end, from the report they got, if we were to remodel or renovate kitchen, which as I said, it would have disrupted service, it would have even cost more than to build a new facility. So it's best that we build a new facility while we're not disrupting service and enhance and be something better for the citizens of the district."
In other news from the big room, Cabinet approved the recruitment of another 225 police officers. The release says this will, quote, "allow for the Police Department to staff a new precinct in Santa Elena Town to strengthen some of its specialized units."
Also, the New. Growth Industries portfolio - which has been more notional than actual - has been approved to, quote, "(establish)…critical positions within the New Growth Industries Unitto effectively manage and promote emerging sectors crucial for economic diversification and growth."
Cabinet met yesterday for the first time in three weeks.
