What was once an active healthcare facility, has now been reduced to a derelict building, that looks like a hurricane ran through it.
The Port Loyola Clinic shutdown last year, and today we received word that official approval has been granted to demolish the structure and its entirety.
The Director of Public Health & Wellness spoke to us as to why they've decided to start from scratch and hopefully build another clinic.
Opened in 1988, the Port Loyola Clinic once served as a dual functioning health centre for residents in the area and a psychiatric daycare. But over the years as the building began to deteriorate from within, it forced the ministry to shut it down completely until a building assessment could be done.
But as it turns out they will never be able to reopen it, because a few repairs won't fix the problem:
Dr Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness
"The Port Loyola Clinic over the years has continued to deteriorate despite us trying to do some renovations and it had come to a point where we realized that we could no longer renovate the Port Loyola Clinic and it needed to be rebuilt so we went through the processes of getting it inspected and we achieved, well we received the confirmation that it could be demolished from the Central Building Authority. And so at this point - everything takes some time - but at this point where we are at we are ensuring that the building is in a state where it can be safely demolished. So there has not been any looting or there has not been a break in or anything of the sort. This is the process that is ongoing not only for Port Loyola in the Belize district but we are also doing the same for a building that we call the VCT building which is a building that stands behind the Cleopatra White health facility it has, chest clinic, dental services and VCT so we have removed these 3 areas and placed it inside Cleopatra White. And in other areas as well. And that building you will also notice will go through the same process. So those 2 buildings as well have received clearance or authorization from the Central Building Authority for it to be demolished because they are both condemned. The same as the Port Loyola clinic."
According to Diaz Musa, one of the persistent problems at Port Loyola was mold:
Dr Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness
"Well there have been numerous issues with the clinic, not only mold but deterioration on a whole. There were problems with the plumbing, problems with the electrical mold growing on some of the surfaces especially the rooms that are parallel to the vaccine areas that we have to keep very cold, so these areas were just continuously growing mold despite us painting, cleaning getting in experts to help us with it and so it had come to a point where we could no long maintain or update safely and for that reason we requested for the central building authority to do an inspection to look at the building and determine whether or not it can be retrofitted or renovated. At that point we received notification that the building has been condemned for many factors including the mold that was actually inside the walls very difficult because it continued to grow even though we were cleaning and after the approval that it was condemned we then received approval for demolition of this building."
Director Diaz Musa says that they fully recognize the clinic's multifunctional use and community value:
Dr Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness
"Port Loyola health centre it was, expanded over the years as the population, the services expanded over the years as the population in that area increased so the dual function was, a part of it was for outpatient services including, well, primary care, outpatient services including maternal and child health services. And the second half was geared towards mental health services. So we had a day hospital there, we provided a meal for persons coming in for care, there were also areas that we would give treatment for the mentally ill. So it did support a dual function at that facility and it was excellent for us because it was a one stop so the persons who were suffering from any mental illness could come in. We also had a psychologist there we had a psychiatrist based there as well and some of our PnPs, the psychiatric nurse practitioners. And they were also able to see a GP if there was any need at that point."
So, now, where does the community turn for these services?
Dr Melissa Diaz Musa, Director of Public Health & Wellness
"Because the building as I had mentioned earlier deteriorated significantly and because we needed to move our services our of Port Loyola for the safety of our patients and our staff we have worked closely with the NGOs, the Mental Health Association, they have a service that is almost similar in terms of a day service for the mentally ill at the Welcome Resource Center. So we are sharing that facility with them at this point, patients who used to go to Port Loyola for their meals, for their showers, for treatment are now being asked to go to the Welcome Resource Center and that is at the end of Vernon street, closer to the old cemetery, Lord Ridge cemetery in that area. So we still have services there that is provided daily and the Mental Health Association, they also provided meals, clothing etc for persons suffering from mental illness. So we have moved from one location to another location with the same services being given by the psychiatric nurse practitioners, the medical officers. There are pharmaceuticals there as well and compounded you can also get your meal and clothing at that facility, and other services, other occupational therapy services other things that are done by the Mental Health Association."
