Shane Williams Reporting

For a parent or guardian, few things are more distressing than knowing something may be wrong with a child and not knowing where to turn. For Indeera Flowers, that fear began when her daughter Kideera was just ten months old and got progressively worse, but she found hope in Rotary’s Belize Children’s Project.

Indeera Flowers

Indeera Flowers, Mother

“When she was 10 months old, we first started seeing the bone in her legs and then. When she was three years old, she wasn’t growing out of it. So we took her to the doctor. From the doctor. He said that, okay, from X-rays and different things, he said that we had bloods disease, so he had to take, well, we had to take surgery and that was when we started looking into options to take surgery and different things. And then he told us about Rotary and then we got in contact with them and set up everything.”

Kideera

Rotary’s Belize Children’s Project has helped over five Belizean children like Kideera over the years, children with growth disorders that, if untreated, can lead to lifelong pain and disability. Rotary mobilized an international network of care. Through the Rotary Club of Southern Illinois and Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis, everything is arranged.

Charlene Brennan

Charlene Brennan, US Director, Belize Children’s Project

“We can coordinate their air travel. We meet them at the airport. If they’re going to a host family, we make sure that they get to the host family. We accompany them at all of their appointments in the hospital. We attend their surgeries. We support the host families or the parent, if there is a parent that has the financial resources to come and accompany, we will also help support them with whatever facilitating that they would need. We do coordinating for housing for them and basically just make sure that they are taken care of while they’re in the us.”

For orthopedic surgeon Dr. Coles L’Hommedieu, this mission has become deeply personal. He has traveled to Belize almost every year for seventeen years, volunteering his time and expertise.

Coles L’Hommedieu

Dr. Coles L’Hommedieu, Orthopedic Surgeon

“It’s life altering. I’ve been doing it for a long, long time. I got into the program probably close to twenty years ago. One of the patients in the program had gotten too old to go to the hospital, so I did some hip surgery on her. And then they asked me to join the program and come each year and help out clinically. And so you know, the program’s been around a lot longer than I have. But over time we’ve helped over five hundred children. And this year we have already over ten kids that will likely go back for surgery to get better with the multitude of problems. It’s been life changing. I mean, I love the country. I love the people here. I come back for that reason. It feels good to help out. But you know, the bigger picture is I’m here to do good for the people of Belize above everything else. And I, I keep coming back because I love it. I love the country and, and I love the people and everything about the place.”

Behind the scenes, host families open their homes and hearts. Kevin Sadle and his wife have been hosting Belizean children for more than a decade, witnessing transformations they say never get old.

Kevin Sadle

Kevin Sadle, Host Parent

“When we first had our first little girl, she was six years old and came to us. And it was something that we couldn’t imagine. You know, a mother gave giving up her daughter to come to the states to have surgery with and stay with somebody that she had no idea who they were. They trusted the whole process. And so, she came up twice and lived with us for about three to four months each time with the back surgery that she had. And it was really rewarding because last Wednesday we had dinner with her and her mom, and now she’s 16 years old and she’s no longer in in need of the program. She walks straight and can do everything healthy. It’s just such, so rewarding to see the life-changing surgeries that this program provides.”

Here in Belize, the project depends on strong local partners. The Rotary Club of Belmopan organizes the clinics at different healthcare facilities across the country, and in Belize City, Belize Healthcare Partners provides its facility free of cost, ensuring children from across the country can access care.

Ishmael Quirroz

Ishmael Quirroz, Past President Rotary Club of Belmopan

“It’s a collaboration. It’s where we bring down a specialist in pediatric orthopedic down from the states to do annual clinics where we invite everybody. Anybody who has a child, who has any bone abnormality, any issues such as scoliosis, club feet, knock knees, anything related to bones, we invite them to come out and get a free diagnostic assessment. And so after that assessment, if they are adequate and eligible to enter our program, our commitment is to provide them free medical care and treatment up to the age of eighteen.”

Eden Jones

Eden Jones, Patient Experience Manager, Belize Healthcare Partners.

“It has been truly wonderful to see the children and their happy faces, to see the children returning. You know they are excited to see the doctors and it’s very encouraging to hear their stories and to see how far they have come. On behalf of Belize Healthcare Partners, we are truly honoured to be a part of this initiative. Children are the foundation of our nation’s future and investing in their health is investing in Belize itself.”

Like hundreds of other children who have benefitted from the program, today, Kideera’s life looks very different. She runs. She plays. She excels in school. Her mother says sometimes she cries, not from fear but from joy.

Indeera Flowers

“I would have to say some days I cried from seeing the transformation that happened. It has been amazing to see her from those bow legs to now up straight and tall and can walk and run and do everything, you know, like a normal child. It has been like the world for me because I’ve always wanted to see her get like that and to see that we had the opportunity of doing so it has been the most wonderful feeling.”

Ten other children have already been selected this year for treatment at Shriner’s Hospital. Shane Williams for News Five.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Rotary’s Belize Children Project Continues Transforming Lives   first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On The Phone: Dr. Natalia Beer, Maternal & Child Health Technical Advisor, MOHW

“The major cause of, of death, and this is worldwide, not only in believes, is prematurity. And the prematurity mean a baby. Every baby that is born before thirty-seven weeks of pregnancy, and this represents worldwide around ten percent, we are between eight and nine percent. Our total leg births that are premature. Now, the problem with the prematurity is that many of the organs are immature. At birth, we have the lungs, the brain, the liver, that are not fully developed, and then this alone increase the risk for respiratory distress. It increases the risk for infections. And it increases the risk for neurological problems. The next factor is low birth weight and low. Low birth weight can be found in premature babies as well as babies at term. And this low birth weight increase the risk for complications. The percentage of under five deaths that we have recorded related to prematurity is sixty percent. So we know that the earlier the child is born, the higher the risk of losing those babies.”

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Prematurity Drives Alarming Child Mortality in Belize first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Deyanie Staine, Aunt of Rehomed Children

“I reside in the US and here is actually the family member is first option. The social worker must considered family first. Before going to other avenues versus Belize when I was reading the law, that’s not the case. I think that’s really twisted in the system because we put these kids in these homes when they’re going through stuff and they see it as a punishment, they don’t see it as, I’m taking you away from the situation you’re in because even if the situation is bad in their eyes, that’s still mom and dad. And you putting me in the system is, I don’t know these people. Another issue with the system is the parents, in this case it’s my sister. She was given visitation rights, supervised visitation rights, but it’s been two weeks and still no information. We don’t know which home the kids are at. We know they are in a home, but we don’t know which home because a social worker says, oh, we need at least two weeks to release that information. Then I need time to schedule a visit. These kids need to at least hear it’s going to be okay. That’s all we at least wanna just see them to say that it’s going to be okay. We will figure it out. But they’re just there. They just took them and didn’t even say, okay, this is what gonna happen. Can you give your goodbyes? It’s for you to just give them, that little word, just to feel safe, that we will figure it out. And then also in this specific case my aunt was actually at court. She wasn’t allowed in the room, and she spoke to the social worker. And the social worker said okay. You they would have to request for you to be in there. So he knew she was out there, but he didn’t request for her to be in there. If you had requested, the judge would’ve seen her and probably, the judge would’ve been like, okay, let’s consider her let’s do the background search to see if she’s a good fit to take them.”

The post Aunt Challenges State After Girls Taken Into Care first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                   Shawn Vargas

Shawn Vargas, Director, Department of Human Services

“We follow what is called a continuum of care within the department. And so always it’s family that’s prioritized for placement. It is always family that is prioritized after family, e look at foster parents who are registered with the department and after fast appearance, then we look at the institutions. So placing a child in an institution is the last resort of the department, the last resort of the department, and one additional component when it comes to family placement. We believe that we have family members who are capable, who are willing and able to support. But if you don’t reach a certain threshold within the, what we have as our substitute care agreement and home visiting report, then we cannot place with a family member because the ultimate responsibility is safety and protection of the child, and not because they are willing and able, it means that the placement is safe. So those are some of the things that the public have to understand. The public needs to understand. Our purpose is safety and protection, and so we have to look at all. All avenues to, to ensure that the safety and the protection of every child that’s in the care of the department is paramount. There is a substitute care provider. It is an agreement that the department hold with any individual who is fostering a child. And with that substitute care provider, it’s like a contract, an agreement. And so we work The department can make an effort to if there’s something, the department can make an effort to meet the needs of the family. So even if it means to provide grocery on a monthly basis to provide a small stipend for the family to care for a, an extended family member, the department makes an effort to do that when it comes to long-term placement, especially with teenagers, because they are among the difficult population to place. For evident reasons. We even go as far as helping with building materials to, to help, to renovate a home as long as we know this is a long-term placement for this individual. So those are the extent that what we would do or how we would get things to, to work for placement.”

The post Human Services Defends Child Removal Procedure first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams, Reporting

In a simple handwritten letter, Cordelah Duran opens up about a body that feels worn down by illness, the exhausting trips to Merida for treatment, and the quiet fear that comes with constant pain and bleeding. But what’s most striking isn’t despair, it’s love. Through every word, Cordelah chooses hope over anger, reminding us of the strength and grace that can shine even in the darkest moments.

I only can wish to see Christmas this year for mom, my body is tired. Mom I have my Christmas wish. Don’t know which you can give for you are broke but just in case, I wish to have Christmas tree (lots of lights), food on Christmas day, skin care, ring light, Led light strip, I-pod, set of body scrub.

Small gestures meant to bring back a sense of everyday life to a reality that’s been anything but.

                              Cordelah Duran

Cordelah Duran, Cancer Fighter

“I just mi di try express how I mi feel because ih rough that how I sick and I lone the travel so it rough.”

Shane Williams, Reporter

So what do you want for your mom this Christmas?

Cordelah Duran

“I just want my ma feel happy for Christmas.”

We first met Cordelah four years ago, when her mom was hosting a barbecue fundraiser to cover the cost of a doctor’s visit in Merida. She has been fighting cancer and related complications for over seven years. Although she’s in remission, her heart and intestines continue to trouble her, complications which require continued visits to O’Horan Hospital in Mérida.

Cordelah Duran

“For past three days I noh have no pain, but rather than that, most of the time I’m in pain, but I try to put on a smile on my face so people don’t know when I’m in pain or when I’m not in pain ’cause I put on a smile on my face. If people ask me if I’m fine I’m fine, I’m doing good, but inside I’m not. It’s the inside that matters, because right now my intestine is swollen. But I don’t make people know that, but now I’m expressing the feeling that I am in.”

For a mother who sacrificed her teaching career to care for Cordelah, the letter was a mix of heartbreak and profound humility. She says the financial strain of medical travel, treatments, and daily care has pushed the family to the edge, but giving up has never been an option and she put the letter out there, not for sympathy, but as an expression of love.

                                Delilah Arana

Delilah Arana, Mother

“Every year? I wish that she sees Christmas and when that letter, I read that letter, I didn’t want to post it up but when I read it again and I spoke to her, I said, I asked her, is it okay to post it up? Because yes, she wants to see Christmas and yes she wants gift, but the message behind it was to like have parents appreciate their children. Not only parents, but appreciate the family on a whole. You don’t know what will happen.”

Delilah Arana says doctors had given up on her daughter, until Dr. Pablo Gonzalez Montalvo, head of O’Horan Hospital in Merida, stepped in. He made sure Cordelah got top-notch care, part of a service his hospital has offered Belizean kids with cancer since 2008. Earlier this month, Dr. Montalvo was in Belize celebrating Christmas with survivors like Cordelah. Thanks to partnerships with local groups like the Belize Cancer Center, the five-year survival rate for pediatric cancer patients has jumped from 38% to 67%.

             Dr. Pablo Gonzalez Montalvo

Dr. Pablo Gonzalez Montalvo, Oncologist, O’Horan Hospital

“I get emotional on this part of my job. It’s difficult sometimes to hold the tears back. The problem of childhood cancer is often seen by the general population of as a very sad thing because you get to see children die. But we also get to change that fate. What, when we see childhood cancer, if we do nothing, everybody will die. If you do something, some of them, or in this case most of them will conquer cancer and will live a full healthy life. We will give the family forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years of life, which is the huge impact of childhood cancer.”

Cordelah is nothing short of a living miracle. Just over a decade ago, the survival rate for a Belizean child with cancer was roughly the thirty percent. Despite the pain, she continues to fight, smiling on the outside while her body battles on the inside. Cordelah’s Christmas wish isn’t about what’s under the tree, it’s about something far more precious: time, comfort, and a child’s deep love for her mother. It’s hope that her mom, who has sacrificed so much through every hospital visit and sleepless night, will finally receive the blessings she truly deserves.

Cordelah Duran

“I just want unu just please help because cancer da nothing nice. Sometimes you are in your down days. Sometimes yo dream you noh di make it. Sometimes you feel like the cancer the come back. You just please help because it rough. I try to, don’t put it in my head that I’m sick. I try to ignore it because if I think about it, I get down. So I just try to be a normal child as everyone else.”

Shane Williams

What do you expect to be doing this Christmas?

Cordelah Duran

“Just have Christmas, a good Christmas with my family. Have some nice meals and wonderful present this Christmas.”

Her story reminds us that as the holidays come, Christmas isn’t always about boxes and bows, it’s about hope and strength, one day at a time. Shane Williams for News Five.

The post For Cordelah Duran, Christmas Means Hope, Not Presents first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

António Guterres

António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations

“The convention on the rights of the Child is the most widely ratified treat in history signed thirty-six years ago. Today, it affirms the simple truth: when we protect the youngest members of the human family, we build a better world. But right now, children’s rights are under attack, poverty, and the emergencies are stealing education. Climate chaos is jeopardizing futures and new dangers lurk in the online world. Too many children already carry burdens far beyond their years. Earning income or caring for siblings and feminine war have robbed thousands of the most basic rights of all, the rights to life. Every child’s circumstances are unique, but every child has the same rights no matter who they are or where they live. Do all children’s day let us listen to children and let us amplify their voices as they stand up for their rights. The future is defined by how we care for the next generation. We must unite to build a safe and equal world for every child.”

The post UN Urges Leaders to Protect, Educate, Empower Every Child first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                          Beyonce Villafranco

Beyonce Villafranco, Reporting

“My Day, My Rights.” This year, children and youth across the world are taking over the news to remind leaders, communities, and families that a child’s right to safety, protection, and survival is not optional, it is priority.”

Here in Belize, one of the biggest ways we protect those rights is through Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Management, especially as climate change makes storms stronger and emergencies more frequent.  We spoke with Jenna Hoare, UNICEF’s representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, who explained how children’s rights guide every step of UNICEF’s work during emergencies.

                                     Jenna Hoare

Jenna Hoare, UNICEF Representative, Disaster Risk Management

“Back in 2019, UNICEF had partnered with the government to develop a multi-sectorial toolkit that provides guidance to government entities, private sectors, and even civil societies who work directly with children or on behalf of children when disaster hits. And so this toolkit, what it does, it really provides. Practical actions that can be taken before, during, and after a disaster. So it factors things like what are the shelter checklists that needs to be in place to ensure that there are safe spaces within these shelters? What are the types of programs that can be done after a disaster hits? They also factor in checklists for child protection needs and concerns, post disasters as well.”

UNICEF also collaborates with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and the National Emergency Management Organization to ensure Belize’s systems align with regional standards. National Emergency Coordinator, Daniel Mendez, shared that NEMO works directly with schools by conducting preparedness training with students and piloting a new School Disaster Leadership Team model which helps youth understand procedures, practice readiness, and become more empowered participants in disaster planning.

                              Daniel Mendez

Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator, NEMO

“NEMO does do a lot of public outreach, and one of our areas of outreach is working in schools and working with schools. Our job is to go in and to do training sessions with students. We also support different communities and we have, we’re piloting a new initiative called. The school disaster leadership team, where we are trying to mirror the community the community emergency system at the school level. So what really what we’re trying to do is to ensure that children receive the same information. Children are ready to respond if as necessary within their capacity. And also doing our best to empower children because while we know that children are one of the most vulnerable sectors of society, we do recognize that children are not powerless.”

For UNICEF, a core value is empowering youth to move beyond victimhood and become champions of disaster readiness.

Jenna Hoare

“They are innovators. They come up with new ways in how we can better detect when a hazard is approaching. The use of ai GIS mapping, they are the persons who are at the forefront that can better able to support us. But what we need to do is to ensure that we build their capacity to do more.”

Integrating children and youth into planning ensures that Belize fulfills its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Belize’s constitutional duty to protect vulnerable groups. Belize has systems in place. But systems only work when people know their rights, when young people step up, and when leaders continue to invest in resilience. As a young Belizean, as a NEMO Youth Ambassador, and as part of UNICEF’s World Children’s Day Takeover, I stand with every child who wants a safer future. Because climate change is real, disasters are real, but so is our power to prepare. Reporting for News Five, I am Beyonce Villafranco.

The post Belizean Youths Lead Climate Action on World Children’s Day first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                        Emiliano Flores

This week, Belize Specialist Hospital joined forces with World Pediatrics Belize for their annual Pediatric Surgery Mission, a program that’s giving Belizean families access to life-saving care they might not otherwise afford. Around sixty patients were screened this year, and nearly half of them went under the knife for critical procedures. Earlier today, News Five’s Britney Gordon stopped by the hospital to learn more about how this initiative is changing lives. Here’s her report.

                      Victoria Olivares

Britney Gordon, Reporting

This year, Belizeans have faced heartbreaking losses. Seven-month-old Emiliano Flores passed away after a brave fight against a rare disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. And just last week, the country mourned again when one-year-old Victoria Olivares died while receiving treatment in Mexico, an effort funded by a community-driven campaign. These stories are painful reminders of the struggles many children face every day. That’s why initiatives like the annual pediatric surgery mission are so critical. Organized by World Pediatrics Belize, the program screens young patients and partners with local hospitals to provide life-saving care. This year, the surgeries will be hosted at the Belize Specialist Hospital.

                      Khandice Joseph

Khandice Joseph, World Pediatrics, Belize

“So our patients are primarily from birth to twenty-one years, and we are here this week to do surgeries, pediatric cases that cannot be done by the local team here in Belize. So our team came in on Saturday, and like I said, we did the screening on Sunday and we are here to do renal biopsies, bowel obstruction, gallstones, Hirschsprung disease cases gastro esophageal reflux cases. These are cases that are reviewed and then they decide which surgeries will take place.”

Sixty patients ranging from infants to teenagers were treated this week, with about twenty-five receiving surgeries by an expert team of doctors. The Belize Specialist Hospital has been in operation since 2008, starting as a gastro clinic, but has since expanded, tripling its services in the last five years.  Ray-Anne Anderson, Head of Nursing at the Belize Specialist Hospital, tells us more.

                  Ray-Ann Anderson

Ray-Ann Anderson, Head of Nursing, Belize Specialist Hospital

“We are still expanding some more as you know, the initiative with WPP here, we also are starting a blood drive. We are trying to push for this to be an annual thing. So on October twenty-fifth, we’ll be having a blood drive here. Free to everybody that wants to come and donate some blood. But over the past five years, we have expanded so much more and we are still doing so in trying to bring other doctors in to provide services that can’t be done here in Belize.”

World Pediatrics travels around the globe offering surgeries to children in dire need. By partnering with a host hospital, the team can access more patients and save more lives. Robson Moreira, CEO of Medical Services Corporation, says the partnership was supposed to last just one day. But after seeing how many children needed surgery, they extended it to an entire week.

                   Robson Moreira

Robson Moreira, CEO, Alliance, Medical Services Corporation

“It’s very beautiful to see the kids being helped or the whole country being supporting here what’s so interesting because they asked it for a day. And now we are providing four days, so we are extending to four more days. We close all our business to be able to provide them the space to do the service for four more days after that. And it’s been a success. It’s very. It. It’s very feeling, heart feeling to come here. I’ve been here at night and see the families, seeing the kids being helped and that things you so more than the business itself, it’s interesting to see how can we help Belize in this case.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

The post World Pediatrics Steps In for Belize’s Children first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Zenida Lanza, Reporting

Rainy skies thinned the crowd at this year’s Children’s Rally, but they couldn’t wash away the pride of the students who showed up. The annual rally celebrates patriotism and aims to inspire young Belizeans to cherish their country. Even though only ten schools made it, less than half of those invited, the spirit of the rally carried on strong.

                Sebastian Cab

Sebastian Cab, Center Manager, Belize District Education Center

“We acknowledge and we understand the students who normally would be like about three to four thousand students would be here. We normally get like twenty-four schools here, ramp packed. But this morning was a major challenge with the weather and it’s beyond our control. So, we truly thank those schools who are here this morning, made the sacrifice. And of course, we understand our schools who are out there, who didn’t make it. Our hearts go out to them because truly some of the schools were flooded out this morning. So we totally understand. We normally get, like I said, like twenty-four schools here, like three thousand to four thousand students. But this morning, we only got about 10 schools in attendance this morning.”

The program featured lively performances and words of encouragement, with motivational speeches from the Deputy Mayor and Miss Universe Belize, music from Gladden’s Band, and patriotic showcases from the students themselves.

                   Isabella Zabaneh

Isabella Zabaneh, Miss Universe Belize

“A lot of my life has been very creative, and I wouldn’t say I’m the most creative person, but creativity has often been shown in the way I express myself, and I’ve done that in poetry. And so today I recited a poem that I was able to write last year for Independence Day, which was really special, and I think the students can learn from it, but also just have fun with it.”

And while attendance was smaller than expected, the children’s excitement filled the Civic Center.

                    Giyah Thompson

Giyah Thompson, Student, St. Joseph School

“It was really good, it was raining a lot and we were a little bit delayed.”

Zenida Lanza

“Okay, and are you excited for the performances?”

Giyah Thompson

“Oh yeah, they look really cool from what I’ve seen so far…I just want to have some fun.”

Zenida Lanza

“Okay, what kind of fun do you want to have here?”

Giyah Thompson

“I mean, like, dancing and singing and seeing all the other schools and my school perform.”

Teachers agreed the students’ spirits never wavered, despite the gloomy skies.

                      Aalaiyah Hislop

Aalaiyah Hislop, Head Teacher, Wesley Upper School

“The turnout is very poor to bring our about 50 students here today, The turnout is very poor because of the weather, but we gave a little incentive. The students know that they were going to receive their treats today. So that little incentive still gave us the ability to bring out about 50 students here today…They are still excited. They like the dances that are happening here. They like the conversation that they had with Mr. Miller…It’s a sad day because we don’t have everyone here participating, but we’re making the best out of it.”

Even with the rains keeping numbers down, Belizean pride shone brightly in every performance and every little flag waved. Reporting for News Five, I’m Zenida Lanza.

Children Nationwide Celebrate Belize at Annual Rally | Greater Belize Media

The post Smaller Turnout at Children’s Rally, But Pride Shines Through first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                         Kaleel Nah

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

It started with what seemed like a routine illness, vomiting and fever. Virgen Garcia, a mother of two, didn’t think much of it at first. Her two-year-old son, Kaleel Nah, was still active despite the symptoms, and like many parents, she tried to manage it at home with Tylenol. But by Monday, Kaleel’s condition hadn’t improved. That’s when Virgen decided to take him to the San Pedro Polyclinic, hoping for answers and relief. What followed was a heartbreaking turn of events that no parent ever wants to face.

                    Virgen Garcia

Virgen Garcia, Mother of Deceased

“Monday, I took him to the clinic. I told them he had cough, fever, vomiting and they just gave me medication for vomiting and fever. Dehn neva tell me weh he got or what he might have. I gaan home and he was still kinda playing, but noh like Sunday and Saturday, noh like usual. Monday night, I saw him getting worse and Tuesday, after lunch I took him to the medical center up north where they gave him an injection for the vomiting because nothing was staying in his stomach. When eight [o’clock] reached, I noh sih no difference pan my baby.”

As baby Kaleel’s condition worsened, his mother knew something wasn’t right. She rushed her little boy back to the San Pedro Polyclinic, desperate for help. For nearly two hours, doctors and nurses tried everything to get him on a saline drip. Kaleel was dangerously dehydrated after nonstop vomiting, but no matter how hard they searched, they just couldn’t find a vein.

                       Baby Kaleel

Virgen Garcia

“They ended up doing a rectal for the drip and right after one [o’clock] when the drips finished, all they were doing were orals, giving him saline to drink until the next day. The doctor passed the case to a next doctor and they gave him an x-ray, they gave him a blood test, everything came out good. And I told the doctor and them, my baby noh sleep like that, my baby noh look correct, my baby had ih eye swell. And she replied to me that’s normal.”

                 Baby Kaleel

But for Virgen, watching her son grow weaker by the hour, that explanation didn’t ease her fears. She could see his health slipping away and time was running out.

Virgen Garcia

“They discharged him to Belize to come and see a pediatrician for emergency, but she told me that my baby mi good. She was just sending me to an emergency pediatrician for a second opinion. At no point in time she tell me [that] “your pickney, I don’t know, he’s in danger.” She even told me that he’s getting better. But my son wasn’t getting better, my son wasn’t responding right. So she told me, “You have to get the boat and go to Belize right now.” I said, okay, I don’t have another option. So I grab my baby, I gaan borrow money from my ma and I mi gwein pan plane. I gaan check Tropic, but Tropic’s next flight da mi ‘til five. So, I tell my bwai, best thing we grab the boat.”

They rushed to the San Pedro Belize Water Taxi Terminal and jumped on the first boat heading to Belize City. But tragically, Kaleel never made it past Caye Caulker.

                       Baby Kaleel

Virgen Garcia

“My baby never mek it. When we done mi di reach Caye Caulker, my baby just collapsed and I neva know weh fi do. People mi di try help, but when we reach da Caye Caulker, dehn mi done have some medical assistance di wait. Soh, dehn ker him in and when I reach deh, dehn mi done declare he dead. I mi cyant do nothing else.”

Since the tragedy, many people have spoken out about what happened to Kaleel Nah, including Abner Bacab, who runs Island Emergency Services in San Pedro.

               Abner Bacab

Abner Bacab, First Responder, Island Emergency Services

“They did go to the polyclinic here and for some reason, they were not classified under an emergency which we are familiar with emergencies. Once it’s an emergency then the doctor can call for an airplane or an air ambulance to transport the person to Belize City. We have done it many times, we have worked along with nthem many times.”

It’s clear something went terribly wrong here. The choices made by doctors in San Pedro appear to have failed Kaleel and his parents.

Abner Bacab

“It’s not the first, it’s not the second time that somebody has passed away here on the island, especially when it comes to medical emergencies, you know. The problem starts all the way from the government coming down. There are protocols that need to be followed to meet an emergency situation and then the doctors classifying it as an emergency and getting approval to get the airplane to come for the person.”

The Ministry of Health & Wellness has issued a statement on this incident. It goes on to say, quote, We are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the care provided to the child at the San Pedro Polyclinic and the events leading up to his death. This is a coroner’s case; therefore, we await the result of the autopsy findings, end quote.

Isani Cayetano

“Do you feel [that] the system has failed you as a mother who was trying to access…”

Virgen Garcia

“Yes, because if they knew my pickney was really bad, they coulda mi send me from that night because I mi done gaan earlier, I mi done gaan Monday and dehn mi done know my baby sick.”

Isani Cayetano for News Five.

The post Toddler’s Death Raises Serious Questions About Healthcare in San Pedro first appeared on Greater Belize Media.