BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 18, 2021.– On Thursday, February 18, 2021, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Hon. Michel Chebat, received a letter from the Belize Medical and Dental Association (BDMA), praising the recent appointment of Dr. Melissa Musa-Diaz as the new Director of Health Services.
Despite the controversy surrounding this recent appointment, which required a demotion/transfer of the previous Director of Health Services, Dr. Marvin Manzanero, the BDMA states, “Our doctors on the frontline are pleased with the availability of personal protective equipment recently. The waiting time for COVID-19 tests has decreased drastically; as a result of this, patients are being isolated and treated sooner, which has led to the marked decrease in number of cases.”
On the other hand, there are other groups who have stood in defense of Dr. Marvin Manzanero, the previous Director of Health Services, and who have insisted that his supposed “demotion” lacked the proper procedures/protocols. Sharon Fraser, president of the Association of Public Service Senior Managers (A.P.S.S.M.), and Chief Magistrate, told News5, “The only concern I had was how could there be appointed an acting Director of Health Services when, in fact, that appointment had to have come from the Public Service Commission and at the time, I know for a fact that the Public Service Commission was not working.” Fraser continued, ‘The position is if it is that he was not able or they did not want him [Dr. Manzanero] for whatever reason, there is still a process that needs to have been followed as it relates to him as the substantive holder of the position of Director of Health Services.”
Regardless of the objections from these groups, the BDMA has been public in its praise of Dr. Diaz, stating, “We are pleased to have someone who has served in the public health sector of our country holding office. True change and improvement in our health system can only come about with having persons who have experienced the true deficiencies of our system and have the willingness to make the changes in these positions.”
The Belize Medical and Dental Association believes that Dr. Melissa Musa-Diaz has expressed great concern for the health professionals in Belize. The association, in addition to applauding the increased availability of PPE’s and the decreased waiting time for Covid-19 test results, said in their release that Dr. Diaz also actively solicits their input in decision-making. “At last, we feel as if our suggestions and concerns fall on listening ears,” the BDMA release said.