IOM Donates Over $150K in Medical Equipment to New Duck Run 1 Clinic

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) today officially handed over medical equipment valued over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The equipment, which includes 23 types of essential items such as EKG machines, diagnostic sets, scales, crash carts, and defibrillators, will be installed at the new clinic currently under construction in the village of Duck Run 1. The donation marks a significant milestone in the “Building Climate Change Resilience and Social Integration of Displaced People in Settlements of Western Belize” project.  Minister Kevin Bernard, spoke about the importance of the donation.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “We have several equipment that will be used at the polyclinic at Duck Run. Hopefully by the time we have this project completed in late October we could get into operation within a month thereafter because of course you know we have to ensure that the staffing will be dedicated to that area. But as you know, if you look around, you see the defibrillators, you see the beds, you find different equipment. They have the autoclave and all other equipment that is vital, important, really important for the operation of a polyclinic and so these will be put to great use. Again, it’s all about making sure that we are able to provide adequate health services to the Belizean people, especially those residents who will benefit from this project. This is a donation by the EU through the IOM project. It is worth over $151,000 Belize dollars so that’s what you’re seeing in this room. And of course the ministry will have to identify other required items that we may have to put in the building but this really gives us a great head start in terms of the necessary services that the polyclinic provides for the population that it will serve in that area.”

The new polyclinic, expected to be completed in October 2024, will provide vital healthcare services to over 5,000 residents in Duck Run 1 and surrounding communities. Minister Bernard elaborated the need to allow access to medical care in the rural areas rather than traveling to San Ignacio for emergencies. The “Building Climate Change Resilience and Social Integration of Displaced People in Settlements of Western Belize” project is a joint initiative between IOM and the Government of Belize, launched in February 2022. The project is funded by the European Union with a grant of $4.6 million dollars and is set to conclude by December 2024.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “The plan is that the construction of this project will be completed hopefully in late October. Then we have to do the official handing over and once that is completed then we will then move in to get the equipment over so that we can start the operation. So I would want to say that looking at the timeline maybe by late November we should already be in operation at the Duck Run Polyclinic.”

This initiative target communities such as Santa Familia, Billy White, Los Tambos and Duck Run 1 and Duck Run 3.