NDACC reaches out to San Pedro’s addicts

The National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) now offers service to residents of San Pedro. While the service is offered sporadically, once or twice a month, it is yet another source of assistance for individuals at risk or suffering from drug abuse.

The San Pedro Sun spoke with Kristina Romero, drug educator for San Pedro and Caye Caulker. She informed us that the NDACC is an office under the Ministry of Health and deals with drug prevention education. “We have two units, we have the schools and community program, and that is the one that I fall under, as a drug educator. As part of my duties I go into schools to teach about the harmful effect of drug use, abuse or misuse of prescription drugs as well as legal and illegal drugs.”

While there is not a permanent office at the moment, Kristina visits the island once or twice a month for one to two weeks at a time. Apart from providing educational services to the schools, Kristina works hand in hand with their outreach case worker Joyce Ellis. Once an individual is identified as having a drug problem, that individual is referred to Joyce, who works closely with the addict and families in locating good rehab centers for them.

In San Pedro the officers work out of the San Pedro Town Council building, in a shared office with the Human Development Officer. There are plans in the near future to have a fully functional office here in San Pedro that will work with clients from both San Pedro and Caye Caulker.
Services offered by the office are completely free of cost and available to everyone. In Belize City, the office of the NDACC is located at #25 Amara Avenue and may be reached at 227-0528. While in San Pedro, Kristina may be contacted by dialing 607-0029.

Bees cause RC School Students to be evacuated

Students at the San Pedro Roman Catholic School (SPRCS) were seen walking in file formation heading out of their school grounds. But there was no special activity planned. The reason was BEES! At least one student was stung, leading to the evacuation of well over 800 students from the school compound.Staff from the nearby offices were evacuated as well.
School officials informed the public health department that bees were seen in the school compound, and when the relevant authorities arrived, they discovered the bee hive inside the space separating the first floor (public library) and the second floor (housing the BTB and the Minister of Tourism's Office) of the building located opposite the school.


According to San Pedro RC School Principal Roxanne Kay, it took the teachers about 20 minutes to get all 800 students off the compound to the central park.
While the bees are exterminated, a section of the street leading to the area is closed to the public.

Measles Outbreak Prevention in Belize

Press Release – Ministry of Health, Belmopan - May 25, 2011 - The Ministry of Health notifies the general public that an outbreak of Measles is ongoing in 33 different countries in Europe and transmission has been reported in 5 countries in the Americas. The last cases of measles in Belize were reported in 1991.

Measles is a very contagious disease caused by an infection with the measles virus. Transmission of the virus occurs through unprotected coughing and sneezing of an infected person. A single case of this virus can cause an epidemic among unvaccinated persons. Signs and symptoms of Measles infection include:

- Fever - Rash - Cough - Runny nose (coryza) OR - Red eyes (conjunctivitis)

All persons, especially young children, who have not been vaccinated against measles are asked to contact the nearest public health center during normal working hours.

Travelers going to or coming from Europe, North, Central and South America are advised to review their immunization status and to seek measles vaccine if unvaccinated.

The general public is urged to immediately report signs and symptoms of this disease to community health nurses in the districts or to public health personnel at the Ministry of Health.

Alyssa Arceo accepted at Michael E DeBakey College

The Arceo family is ecstatic at the news that their young Vilma Alyssa Arceo has been accepted to the US based Michael E DeBakey High School for Health Professions. Two years of preparation and hard work have led to this triumphant moment for Alyssa. Michael E DeBakey High School for Health Professions averages at least 1,250 applicants, and only admits about 200 successful applicants. Alyssa is the first Belizean to be accepted at this college.

An overjoyed Arceo family shared this momentous occasion with Alyssa at the Vilma Linda Plaza. The San Pedro Sun found out that Alyssa will leave Belize for Houston, Texas where she will be studying four years of health sciences. DeBakey College is currently ranked as the #1 public high school in the Houston Independent School District, and is a stepping stone for those looking to pursue a medical career.

Vilma Alyssa Arceo, daughter of Elito and Rebecca Arceo, is a graduate of The Island Academy here in San Pedro. Congratulations to Alyssa and her family on a job well done, and The San Pedro Sun joins her family and friends in wishing her a successful four years of studies.

San Pedro PolyClinic II gets a new Pick-Up truck

The administrator of the San Pedro PolyClinic II is happy to announce the acquisition of additional transportation for the PolyClinic. According to Mr. Vellos, the PolyClinic recently acquired a white 2007 4-Door Mitsubishi L-200, pickup truck.

This comes after about three years of working towards this acquisition. While the golf cart that the Clinic currently uses works fine for in-town, it has been a difficult task to reach to the far away areas where the streets are not that accessible. The vehicle has a double cab with an extension pickup, which will serve wonderfully for transportation patients in cases of emergencies.

Special thanks to Caribbean Queen for providing transportation of the vehicle to the island; the (ACTCC) Ambergris Caye Traffic Control Committee; the Ministry of Health and the Central Health Region for their invaluable assistance in the acquisition of this much needed vehicle.

Smile Clinic back in San Pedro

The San Pedro Smile Clinic was back on the island providing dental care to the children of San Pedro. The volunteers held clinic at the Holy Cross Anglican School from Monday February 28th through Wednesday, March 2nd 2011. This time around volunteer dentist, Dr. Tom Anderson and his daughter Megan Anderson from Michigan, provided services to the children of the island.

The smile clinic continues to brightening smiles and remedying cavities to children on the island.

While the Clinic is based out of Holy Cross, all the children of San Pedro are invited and welcomed to utilize the services of the Clinic. Services provided include extractions, fillings and cleaning among other dental services. Assisting the Dentists at the Smile Clinic are four volunteers currently at the Holy Cross School from Hanover College in Indiana.

The San Pedro Smile Clinic takes this opportunity to once again thank everyone that has contributed to the continued success of the Smile Clinic. The next clinic is scheduled for March 14th – 15th 2011.

Baby Daniel Comes Home

In an emotional scene at the Tropic Air terminal in San Pedro, family and friends of Ilda, Daniel and Baby Daniel gathered to welcome home a smiling, healthier Baby Daniel Estell Jr. The family was scheduled to arrive Saturday December 18, 2010, but a delay in flight left them stranded overnight in El Salvador. They made it in at 11:00am on Sunday instead, and the welcoming committee was most ecstatic.

After several months of waiting (in the USA) and finally getting a chance at survival in Colombia, SA, Baby Daniel has been through the worst, and can now be closer to everyone at home.

Baby Daniel was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia - a rare liver disorder - that required major surgery and transplants. With his parents by his side, and father Daniel Sr. a match for the liver he needed, both Daniels underwent a successful surgery and the byproduct is a smiling, bouncing and happy baby boy who underwent a most miraculous transformation.

Welcome home Baby Daniel!!

Hon Pablo Marin wins prestigious UN Award

Minister of Health wins prestigious UN Award

for Excellence in Public Service

-Press Release - Belmopan - November 8th, 2010 - The Ministry of Health is pleased and proud to inform the public that the Americas Award for Excellence in Public Service Jury Committee has announced the selection of the Honourable Pablo Marin, Minister of Health of Belize, as the Americas Award 2010 Laureate in the category “Improvement of Maternal Health”.

In a letter from Mr. Jose Ignacio Gonzalez, the Executive Director of CIFAL Atlanta, Minister Marin was informed that “the Jury Committee selected him for his Ministry’s Maternal and Child Health Program, which has facilitated a health care environment where there is an improved access, coverage and quality of basic care for mothers and children”.
The Americas Award honours remarkable public officials from the Americas who have contributed to the economic and social development of our societies and have achieved tangible progress towards the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Americas Award is a joint initiative of the United Nations and CIFAL Atlanta, with the support of the Carter Center, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Metropolis International Institute.
Minister Pablo Marin will be honoured at the Americas Award 2010 ceremony. This will be held within the framework of the Americas Competitiveness Forum on November 15th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta. The special ceremony will be hosted by US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and US Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela. Over 1,000 leaders including Heads of State, cabinet members, governors, mayors and business leaders from the Americas will attend the ceremony.
The Ministry extends its congratulations to the Honourable Minister for his leadership and to the staff of the Ministry of Health who have made this remarkable achievement possible.
(CIFAL Atlanta is a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR. CIFAL’s mission is to build capacity in governments across the Western Hemisphere).

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