And we also asked Perez about the new hospital that's coming and whether they'd be able to properly staff it, especially following the case of baby Kaleel Nah who died while being transported via boat to the city after he was not given proper care at the town polyclinic. The minister said the polyclinic is swamped, but he will have to find a way to staff the hospital.
Andre Perez, Area Rep., Belize Rural South
"That's an unfortunate incident that happened with the baby, I do know the parents, I'm a good friend of the grandfather and he kept me abreast and its a loss that they're still recovering from and it's going to take a while for them to recover. So many factors and including yes, there's allegations of negligence at the polyclinic. But again Jules if you go to the polyclinic, they are swamped with a lot of people, a lot of staff. The amount of people that visit the polyclinic if you pass there in morning, it should already be a hospital. So you need to understand as well, I'm not taking up for the staff but they are swamped as well. And the issue of understaffing is across the entire country, that has been discussed at the Cabinet level. But when we started building the hospital, I can quote what the CEO of health told me, he said that is going to be logistical nightmare and that was realistic. Can't run away from these things. But as the elected area representative it is my job to make sure that the hospital is built, I have the political will to see that that place is well staffed. Whether they need housing or land, if we have to find incentives for doctors and nurses to come I am prepared to work along with them to offer incentives because it's not easy to live here, the cost of living is very high. So it's a negotiation, we have to work together. The end game is collaboration for the greater good of the community."
