Exploring Alternatives: Why UB Campus Wasn’t Chosen for New Belmopan Hospital

As we wrap up our coverage on the newly acquired land for the tertiary care hospital in Belmopan, we bring you a look at what the alternative would be if the government had pursued construction on the UB Campus.  It is noteworthy, that the portion of the UB land that was being given to government was a distance away from the actual school campus.  Access roads are not readily available as explained by CEO in the Ministry of Health, DR Julio Sabido.

Dr.Julio Sabido, CEO, Ministry of Health and Wellness: “I can tell you that people will have to insure expense in getting from Belmopan and around Belmopan all the way to that proposed area. You’re going to talk about people will have to pay taxis, you’re talking about ambulances and even people in their private transportation having to go through the Maya Mopan, the San Martin area going through like what they say in Kriol “Go soh, tun son, go back soh.” I mean we went there on Monday and it’s a maze. It’s not amazing, it’s a maze to get there right ? It’s not as straightforward as other media houses have said. Now if that is built there and then they have to open roads I think you’re talking about maybe six to eight million dollars in infrastructure as it relates to road and drainage. Not including water and electricity. But from an access standpoint it is going to be a burden on the users of the health system, on the users of that hospital. People will incur added expense to get there as opposed to us constructing it where we have now proposed.”