PAHO/WHO Belize and the Government of Canada jointly donate two portable ultrasound machines to strengthen the capacity in treating COVID-19 patients at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital

These state-of-the-art ultrasound machines will be a valuable tool for treating persons with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit. It allows for quick and prompt results in evaluating the heart and lungs, two of the organs commonly affected by the COVID-19 virus.

“Ultrasound machines play a critical role in supporting the capacity in managing patients with COVID-19,” said Dr. Noreen Jack, PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize. “Because of the machines’ mobility and imaging capabilities, health workers can conduct diagnosis right at the bedside of the patient, providing more time-efficient and effective patient care.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect countries globally, safety measures such as sanitizing and disinfecting have become crucial in all environments especially in health facilities. The size, model, and functionality of the portable Ultrasound Machine donated to KHMHA allow for easy disinfecting without compromising the machine while supporting patient and staff safety efforts.

“We would like to sincerely thank PAHO and the Government of Canada for this kind gift,” said Mrs. Chandra Cansino, Chief Executive Officer of the KHMHA. “For us, at the COVID unit, we are struggling with having the availability of resources. These (equipment) are certainly going to take us along in ensuring that patients within the unit can get the services that they need without having to move.”

Along with the donation, the staff will also be trained on the use and maintenance of the machine, integral to the care and life cycle of the ultrasounds. Diagnostic ultrasound, being a highly operator-dependent imaging modality, requires proper training to optimize the use of the equipment, produce diagnostic quality images, and interpret them correctly to make reliable diagnostic judgments and clinical decisions.