KHMH Unveils Newly Renovated Accident & Emergency Unit

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital inaugurated its newly renovated Accident and Emergency Unit today. The A&E was upgraded through a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations. The estimated cost of the renovation was around six hundred thousand dollars, with major works done in terms of replacing old pipes and roof repairs. Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO of the KHMH, says that upgrading the A&E Unit was imperative, because Belize’s population has more than doubled in size since the hospital first opened back in 1995, and the demand for emergency care has greatly increased.

Chandra Nisbet Cansino, CEO, KHMHA: “It’s extremely important because I think as one of the gentlemen mentioned this is the first point of contact for most patients that come to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and there is something about an aesthetically pleasing look when you go to places. You already feel bad, you’re coming you’re sick the least we can do is make it at least look welcoming and we also took into consideration staff because it certainly upgrades the working conditions for staff as well. What was done essentially this is part of the accident and emergency unit and so we have upgraded the area where patients will sit and wait and we have upgraded some of the patient rooms and then we fixed the entire roof, changed the entire air conditioning system to a more efficient system and so it’s definitely going to be more comfortable. For this particular portion that was done I think it was around $600,000 dollars that was spent.”

Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations Anthony Mahler, says that the project is part of his ministry’s support of health infrastructure, due to the close link between health and tourism. He added that he believes Belize can one day become a place where medical tourism is thriving.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism: “In the past we inaugurated the poly clinic in Placencia to support that area which is one of the fastest growing areas of tourism in the country. We’ve had some major incidents over the last few years here in the Belize district and we believe if we are to cater for that large number of tourists coming into the Belize district, 70% of the cruise passengers come here and all of the overnight arrivals through the airport come through the Belize district so if you have any mass casualty issue then I think Karl Heusner has to be prepared. Well I think we have a ways to go with that but it has started. For example I have relatives who are dentists and they provide service for a lot of cruise passengers and now in other jurisdictions you have cosmetic surgeries and that type of thing happening and you recuperate in paradise and so Belize can offer those same types of services as we continue to expand the healthcare system in Belize.” 

While the inauguration was held today, the KHMH says that various pieces of equipment and patient beds have yet to be installed. CEO Cansino explained that the inauguration was held today to give the media a chance to view the space, as it would not be possible once patients are in their beds