When medicine and politics mix...

What do Medicine and Politics have in common? According to Patty Arceo and Dr. Giovanni Solorzano: a lot. Both were speakers at AGUSM (American Global University School of Medicine) on Friday, February 25th, 2011. Students have a variety of courses to take during the week, but on Fridays they get to listen to invited guests that, more often than not, can guide them and answer some burning questions.
Patty Arceo, former minister under the PUP administration, spoke at length of the many programs within the Ministry of Health that are geared towards the improvement of health care in Belize. According to Arceo, Belize’s health care is sub-standard, more on par with other Central American countries than within UN standards. Even with approximately 200 volunteer doctors and health care specialists who come from Cuba, the fact that they only have the basic equipment means that any help they render is limited.While for many in the modern world medicine is something that is natural to turn to, and education has taught us to go to our doctors for advice and help, Arceo stated that for much of the population, cultural taboos mean that not all will seek help. She used the example of the cultural differences of the Maya, especially in the southern region of Belize. While for many, having children at the age of 11 or 12 is unfathomable, due to differences in culture, that age is not too young for a Mayan girl to start a family. However, with education, that mindset has slowly been changing.
There is a lot that needs to happen for these changes to move forward at as fast a pace as our population seems to be growing. Legislations, creating a bill of rights for all three involved, patient, doctor and institution, is where politics comes into play. Arceo also mentioned the fact that the changing of administration sometimes means that programs get cut halfway, or do not receive the same kind of support as with previous administrations. Studies that take up to 10 years to complete are in jeopardy, and in the process, so is health, when the Ministry of Health’s key players change.
Dr. Giovanni Solorzano, Deputy Director at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH), is also a quality assurance physician, and he also presented his views to the gathered students. Quality assurance, according to Solorzano, is relatively new to Belize – but has become very important as there is a definite need for accountability, especially with the number of physicians who immigrate to Belize. Having a cohesive plan of action provides standards that all doctors must adhere to.
Solorzano also stated that up to 1999, healthcare was free. Then National Health Insurance (NHI) came into effect, based on recommendations by the Inter-Development Bank (IDB) and World Health Organization (WHO). However, despite being in existence for over 10 years, NHI still only serves about 1/3 of the entire population of Belize – with most of the beneficiaries being from the Southern districts and Southside Belize.
NHI was originally scheduled to cover all Belizeans, having been implemented by the PUP administration. After the changing of government, NHI was stopped, due to lack of funds. The only way that NHI is running is through the usage of Belize’s National Social Security funds. Government only allocated around 4.5% of the national budget to healthcare, and the issue is finding money to provide proper healthcare to ALL Belizeans. Solorzano then laid out some suggestions for funding, maintaining that above all, government needs to work with the medical professionals to streamline the system, providing more of what the population needs, and less of what it doesn’t.
As director of the KHMH, Solorzano is well aware of the need for funding for national healthcare. In order to provide proper service via the national hospital, $23million is needed to run KHMH. Only $18million is provided by the government. Ultimately, those that suffer are the patients. While there is a lot to be desired in the Belize healthcare system, in particular when it comes to Maternal Health and Early Childcare, Diabetes, and Emergency healthcare, there is still a lot of progress. Education campaigns for cleanliness, HIV/AIDS education, as well as Mental Health awareness have brought many people and volunteer groups together to help provide a service.
For those who plan on becoming doctors, including those at AGUSM, there is a lot to be learned about medicine and politics, and educating oneself early on makes for a better transition.

From the Belize Bureau of Standards

(Second Run...)

Press Release - Belmopan - 4th March, 2011 - The Belize Bureau of Standards hereby informs on the introduction of the National Metrology Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Regulation 2011.
This Regulation requires all suppliers to have weighing instruments at their place of sale/business and all motor vehicles used for delivery of LPG must also be equipped with weighing instruments. Any person who intends to trade in LPG must complete the application form found in the First Schedule of the Regulation and submit along with the application form a non-refundable fee, the weighing instrument and any other necessary documentation that the Director may require. The application form is to accommodate an initial verification of the weighing instrument, the prescribed mark of verification or the Belize Bureau of Standards Verification Sticker and pattern approval in accordance with the Act.

Any person not in possession of a weighing instrument may submit a request to the Director for the approval of information relating to the weighing instrument in place of the actual weighing instrument before making the purchase. To attain approval, the following information pertaining to the weighing instrument should be submitted:

1. Details of the manufacturer
2. Model Number
3. Serial Number
4. Capacity
5. Scale Interval
6. Evidence of international pattern approval

All weighing instruments must be verified and stamped with the Belize Bureau of Standards verification sticker before used for trade. The weighing instruments will also be sealed at the point of verification. This is to ensure transparency and to assure consumers of the accuracy of the scale.

It also sets out the general requirements for the weighing instruments that will be allowed for trade in the LPG industry. These include the following:

1. A precision balance
2. Platform machine
3. A self-indicating weighing instrument ( including a price computing or printing electronic weighing machine)
4. Non-automatic weighing machine

Additionally, all weighing instruments must carry the following marking:

1. The manufacturer’s name written in full

2. Maximum capacity in the form “Max….”
3. Minimum capacity in the form “Min…”
4. Verification scale interval in the form “e=”

It is prohibited for any person to use a weighing instrument that is not clearly visible to the purchaser.

Any person found in contravention of these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a penalty of $5000.00 and or imprisonment of 6 months or both.
Any person engaged in the sale of LPG prior to the commencement of these Regulations must comply with these regulations within 30 days of the date of commencement.

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.

International Spay Day 2011 - SAGA Supports the San Pedro Community by Spaying Pets and Preventing Suffering

Press Release – SAGA – March 1st, 2011– International Spay Day was on the 22nd of February? You may be perplexed by this. What on earth is International Spay Day? Why would there be an international day devoted to spaying? What is spaying anyway? What does it have to do with San Pedro? What does it have to do with SAGA? What does it have to do with me?
Every day, across the world, thousands of unwanted dogs and cats are killed simply because there are too many of them - and, tragically, those are the lucky ones. Many others are left to die of disease, are poisoned or to starve to death in the streets because they are allowed to reproduce without any control. Dogs and cats are domestic animals. This means that we have created them to serve a purpose and they are dependent on us for their care and welfare. So, it is up to us to prevent their suffering.

Miss Brownie was a female dog left to roam around town by very uncaring and irresponsible owners. She had TVT, a sexually transmitted cancer virus that was one of the worse that had ever been seen by SAGA. Her owners were allowing her to breed irresponsibly and this is why she became infected. Unfortunately for Miss Brownie and the devoted team of SAGA staff and volunteers who spent weeks trying to catch her, she was so sick that they couldn’t save her. She also had tick fever, which is easily and inexpensively treatable, but her owners didn’t bother trying to get help for her. It would have been cruel to keep her alive any longer so she was painlessly put out of her misery.
This is why spaying and neutering is so important and why all responsible owners in San Pedro should have their pets spayed and neutered. International Spay Day gives groups like SAGA, all over the world, a chance to promote spaying and neutering and to inform and educate pet owners about the importance of these very simple procedures that can save thousands of lives.
For SAGA, even though Miss Brownie brought them great sadness, the day turned out to be a huge success and they were able to perform 10 free spays and neuters for the loving and responsible pet owners of the San Pedro community.

Spaying and neutering makes dogs want to stay at home instead of wandering and looking for mates. It makes them better pets, better watch dogs and safer with children. It reduces the chance of injury and disease, which can cost owners a great deal of money and heartbreak and eliminates the risk of unwanted puppies or kittens, which are a great burden on an already overpopulated island.

Many people complain about the strays that chase people on the beach, bark at night, turn over the garbage and give visitors to San Pedro the impression that people don’t care. But there is an easy solution – be an upstanding member of the San Pedro community, like the wonderful owners who brought their pets in on International Spay Day – have your pet spayed or neutered. The great news is that because of the huge success on International Spay Day, SAGA is continuing throughout the month of March to offer a great deal to responsible pet owners. Any owner who has their pet spayed or neutered at SAGA in March will receive a FREE heartworm test, worth $90, for their pet. Heartworm is another easily preventable disease, so having your pet tested and finding out what to do to prevent heartworm or treat it is a great way to save money, your pet’s health and contribute to making San Pedro a better place for people and animals.
It is the right thing to do for you, for your pet and your community. There is nothing natural or kind about leaving your dog to catch and spread deadly disease and letting it have puppies & kittens when there are not enough good homes.
If you’d like to find out more about having your pet spayed or neutered, please contact SAGA on 226-3266.

Women and Politics: Inclusion at the Highest Level

Press Release - Belize - March 2, 2011) Thirty years after independence, the majority of women in Belize continue to face significant challenges in moving towards parity with men at almost every level of political leadership and decision-making. There is no female participation in the House of Representatives and no female minister. This places Belize in joint last position (131st) on the Global Gender Gap Index in the area of political empowerment of women, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei (Ref. The Global Gender Gap Report 2010). With the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament being a critical indicator of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 3, Belize is not on course to achieve this MDG.
The exclusion of women at the highest level of decision-making is attributable to a myriad of factors: socio-economic, cultural, and political, all of which coalesce to prevent the inclusion of women in politics. The participation of women in political leadership and decision-making is therefore a requirement as a matter of justice – women represent half of the world's population and are an essential component to any government, which claims to be legitimate, representative, responsive and democratic.
In an effort to support improvements in women's political participation in Belize, UNDP Belize and the National Women's Commission have launched a collaborative initiative to: analyze the political and policy context of Belize with special emphasis on developments and issues related to gender; update previous research on the situation of women in Belize; expand the analysis of socio-economic, cultural and political obstacles to political participation; and foster a national dialogue on the issue.
The initiative will be guided by an Advisory Committee comprised of representatives from national and international organizations including: the National Women’s Commission, UNDP, UNFPA, the Organization of American States, Embassies of the United States of America, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico, the British High Commission, United Democratic Party, People's United Party, Vision Inspired by the People, Women's Issues Network Belize, RSV Media, University of Belize, and the Women’s Department.
To launch this partnership officially, UNDP Belize Assistant Resident Representative Francisco Roquette and Ann-Marie Williams, Executive Director of the National Women's Commission will be publicly signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing ceremony will take place at Chateau Caribbean on March 8, 2011 at 3 PM coinciding with the commemoration of International Women's Day.
For more information, please contact the National Women's Commission at 223-4284 or UNDP at 822-2688.