Ministry of Health and Environment

Temporary Shortage of Midwives and Nurses Addressed

24 October, 2005 - Belmopan
The Ministry of Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Central American Health Science University today in Belmopan for the
temporary relief of the existing shortage of Nurses and Midwives in the
country.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding the Central American Health
Science University (CASHU) - Belize Medical College through its
affiliate, Vinayaka Mission Research Foundation, Salem India will
provide eight (8) Registered Nurse Midwives to work in the Ministry of
Health's institutions for an initial period of one (1) year, while
Belizean Registered Nurses undergo Midwifery Training at the University
of Belize.

CASHU further agrees to recruit and conduct preliminary screening of
Nurse Midwives in India; present documents of the Nurses to the Ministry
of Health for evaluation prior to final selection. It also agrees to pay
salaries and other benefits to the Indian Nurses while they are working
in Belize.

The Ministry of Health agrees to evaluate the credentials of the Nurse
Midwives to facilitate licensure by the Nurse and Midwives Council of
Belize well as provide a small stipend to the Nurses for the period of
their stay under the agreement.

Signing on behalf of the Ministry of Health was Minister Vildo Marin and
signing on behalf of CASHU was Dr. Murali Rudraraju. Signing as witness
was the Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Sandra Hall.

The Ministry of Health had been experiencing an extreme shortage of
nurses and midwives in the country resulting from the recent recruitment
of Belizean nurses by first world countries. This had negatively
impacted health care delivery especially in the area of Maternal and
Child Health.