It is forever etched in the history of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital that 12 premature babies died in their neonatal intensive care unit in May of this year.

There is still no one who has been held responsible for the deaths, even in the face of a damning report by PAHO who investigated the cause. The incident, however, has sparked some serious changes at the hospital in their effort to upgrade according to the recommendations by PAHO.

One of those upgrades, though not directly tied to the hospital, finally started last Friday in Belmopan when the Ministry of Health signed a contract with Gutierrez and Associate Architects for the renovation of the first floor of the Central Medical Laboratory.

Viewers may remember that Minister of Health Pablo Marin announced a month ago that his ministry would provide $300,000 for this much needed renovation.

Well that money has been contracted, and the company in charge of the works will use it to fix the floor structure, the exterior walls, and interior works, as well as plumbing and electrical work on the Chemistry, Hematology, and Serology Units.

The first floor will also see some renovations to the administrative office, the office of the director, the Laboratory Service Office, and the store room.

The project is expected to be completed next year.

Channel 7