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udpcorozal.com / ministry / first100
Ministry of Health - First 100 Days
"We must build partnerships between government and non-government
agencies, the private sector and local communities. Working
together we can identify innovative and effective solutions to
protect our people." Minister Marin's remarks, World Health Day,
April, 2008.
The first 100 days have seen a whirlwind of activities for the
energetic and dynamic new Minister of Health, the Honourable
Pablo Marin and his team, beginning with site visits around most
of the country (with the rest of the country planned in the near
future) and an analysis of the current situation. The Ministry
of Health provides an essential service with a healthy population
being the conerstone of the economic development of a nation. Here
are our activites and goals for the First 100 Days of this ministry.
- The Ministry of Health continues to provide all hospital and
community based services in the four health regions.
- The National Health Insurance purchased package of primary
health care services continues to be delivered in the Southern
Health region and on the Southside of the Belize District, improving
access and quality for a wide section of the population. The Government
is currently exploring funding options to enable extension of the NHI
to the rest of the country.
- The Maximum Price Contract for the procurement of pharmaceuticals and
medical supplies has been re-introduced to allow for increased efficiency
and transparency of the process.
- Implementation of the exciting new
Belize Health Information System
(BHIS) in 11 MOH facilities/sites including the WinSIG hospital management
information system in the southern Regional Hospital and KHMH to provide
detailed information on hospital production, quality and cost; plans for the
extension of the BHIS to the private sector to transform the reporting of
health information nationally.
- Implementation of the Supply Chain Module of the exciting new Belize
Health Information System.
- Development of High Tec initiatives to maximize the potential of
available new technology with real time TeleHealth links between
Southern Regional Hospital and Rochester General Hospital in New
York now being piloted.
- Re-organization and re-furbishing of selected hospitals, health centers,
and units in all regions is ongoing with over a hundred thousand dollars
worth of new medical equipment arriving this month to help our doctors and
nurses in Primary care Provider clinics in the south and in health centres
nationwide offer the best possible care for the people we all serve.
- Improvements in infrastructure, procurement, and maintenance of vehicles,
equipment, and supplies countrywide continue to be a priority.
- Monthly meetings with Regional Health Managers re-instituted, with
reporting on Service Level Agreements based on agreed targets and
clearly defined indicators.
- Human resource development is now a priority. The MOH will soon complete
a Human Resources for Health Data Management Project to offer evidence based
directions for training of health porfessionals as well as career development
and succession planning. The MOH continues to provide opportunities for
continuing education through seminars, workshops and short courses.
- Baby Friendly Hospital Initiatives and Safe Motherhood activities
continue to advance our progress toward the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals. KHMH is expected to be declared "Baby Friendly" by our
international partners as early as June 2008. The Ministry is happy to
report that there have been zero maternal deaths for 2008.
- Strengthening of infection control in all health institutions including
appointment of at least one Infection Control Officer in each hospital.
- Development of significant international agreements on technical support and
cooperation between Belize and Mexico, Belize and Brasil, Belize and Taiwan,
and the further development of existing agreements between Belize and Cuba.
- Plans are now well advanced for the inauguration of a new cancer treatment centre
(the first in Belize) in Dangriga developed by Belizean Americans Dr. Ellsworth Grant
and Nurse Dellone Pascascio supported by the Belize Cancer Society and the Ministry
of Health.
- Integration of HIV/AIDS services into the regular MOH services is being piloted
at Cleopatra White Polyclinic II to reduce stigma and discrimination and improve
access to care.
- Plans for the transfer of the mental health hospital to the new site in
Belmopan are in the advanced phase with the move expected to be completed
very soon.
- Completion, publication, and implementation of Food Handlers Training
and Certification Programme.
- The Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism, has been negotiating to acquire
four DFC houses to serve as living quarters for Healthcare Workers in San Pedro.
- Strengthening of partnership with governmental and non-governmental organizations
and community participation for the achievement of health goals, including
assistance to complete spray cycle for the prevention of malaria and dengue. For example,
City Councils and Town Councils are worked with to provide transportation to conduct ULV
(ultra-low volume) spraying.
- Continue collaboration with PAHO and other UN agencies for the provision of services,
such as health planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, Maternal and Child Health, nutriton, control
of chronic non-communicalbe diseases, prevention and control of road traffic injuries,
and tobacco control.
- A Special Agreement
was signed between Belize and PAHO on April 7, 2008. This for for an extension
of the the MOH human resources assigned to the PAHO/WHO country office.
- Draft legislation for the prevention and control of tobacco use has been completed.
- The MOH pays for 23 patients to receive hemodialysis at Belize Healthcare Partners Limited.
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