Belize, a former British colony (British Honduras) and the only English-speaking country in Central America, is the newest country we have begun offering assistance. It is small with less than 300,000 inhabitants and about the same size as the other small republic, El Salvador. There are only two major hospitals: One in the capital Belmopan and The Karl Heuser Memorial Hospital (KHMH) situated in the port-community of Belize City, the largest city in Belize.

We became acquainted with Belize’s cardiology-crisis through Sir Barry Bowen, the country’s most recognized and prominent citizen, who arranged a meeting with some key health care providers at KHMH, Dr. Giovanni Solorzano, Quality Assurance Director, and Dr. Gary Longsworth, Chief Operating Officer. The conference revealed that there is no modern cardiac diagnostic or interventional facility in the entire country. It was the usual story we have heard time and time again in Central America: Those who could afford it went outside the country, and those who could not were treated locally the best way they could without modern diagnostic equipment. There was also no possibility to treat imminent heart attacks with invasive cardiological management, despite the fact that an appropriately trained cardiologist was on the premises. The situation was further complicated by the fact that in a major hurricane, most of Belize City, including the KHMH, is usually 6 feet under water.

Thanks to the assistance received from Mr. Smoky Bissell and the Bowen family, the Margaret G. Bissell Catheterization Laboratory, the first one in Belize, was installed in February 2011. A special advantage of the Laboratory is that it is housed in a large trailer, which needs only a tractor to transport it to higher ground should a hurricane hit the City. In such a case, with its own generator, it may even work as an emergency x-ray facility. Our additional efforts connected with the Laboratory are to provide training of personnel and make available regular visits of their cardiologists to the Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute in Charlotte to maintain and update their skills.