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Ministry of Health and Wellness Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Dr. Baldomino Barboza

The Ministry of Health and Wellness joins the medical community, family, friends and colleagues in expressing sincerest condolences on the passing of Dr. Baldomino Barboza.

Dr. Barboza was well-known and loved among the entire medical community countrywide, especially in Orange Walk where he worked for many years. Late last year, Dr. Barboza contracted COVID-19 and in early January, serious complications arose, leading to his death at the Belize Healthcare Partners Limited.

Dr. Barboza worked as a general practitioner from 1981 to 1987, and went on to specialize in Internal Medicine in Costa Rica. Upon his return, he served as the first internist in the northern region for 25 years. During this time, Dr. Barboza also held the post of District Medical Officer, a post he held up to his retirement from the public sector. He went on to work at the Northern Medical Plaza, where he remained up to his death.

Dr. Barboza remained a member of the Belize Medical and Dental Association for many years. He was a dedicated and loved doctor, who gave selflessly to his community and responded to the call as a frontline doctor during this pandemic.

On behalf of the Government of Belize, the management and staff of the Ministry of Health and Wellness extend deepest sympathies to the family of Dr. Baldomino Barboza. The Ministry and the wider medical community shares in the family's pain and sorrow and wish the family comfort and strength to bear this loss.

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The National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) through the Institute for Social and Cultural Research (ISCR) and the Corozal and Banquitas Houses of Culture extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Baldomino Barboza. In addition to his medical profession, Dr. Barboza showed keen interest especially in Maya-Mestizo cultural traditions and history. We recognize his contributions to the medical field and active membership in the To'one Masehualoon cultural organization of Belize and support for the Belize History Association. May he Rest in Peace.

Beloved Barboza Passes, More Than a Just A Doctor

Another of Belize's Doctors has succumbed to COVID-19. Dr Baldomino Barboza, a veteran physician passed away over the weekend from the disease that he had been grappling with from late last year. Early this year, he was gripped by serious complications which led to his death at the Belize Healthcare Partners Limited on Saturday night. It's a major loss for the north - where Dr. Barboza was an institution - he served as the first internist in the northern region for 25 years.

This afternoon we heard from two of his colleagues in the medical field who told us about his professionalism and his unmatched bedside manner.

Over the weekend the nation lost another hard-working, caring physician. Dr. Baldomino Barboza is just the latest of 5 people from his Orange Walk neighborhood who have succumbed to the virus, a reality that clearly illustrates how widespread and devastating the virus has become in the north.

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Head of Northern Regional Hospital
"It's been very difficult, it was very fast they say in less than 3 weeks he started to present symptoms and of course, all of us sometimes think that the other person will be able to cope with it and that everything will be okay but he started to have some breathing difficulties and then we started to see that that was not really looking as to how we all wanted but it has really a big loss for us."

Throughout his career, Barboza had been part of the executive of the Belize Medical and Dental Association. He was also the director and regional manager of the northern part of the country. It was in that role that he made quite a few improvements in the public sector. Strides for which he's not likely to be forgotten.

Dr. Marco Tulio Mendez, Head of Northern Regional Hospital
"Actually he was just working right now at private but he had a long history of working in the public sector so that really gave him the expertise and the experience of treating all types of patients with respect to internal medicine."

And among those at the clinic feeling the loss are the nursing staff whom Barboza supervised. This afternoon one of those nurses, Patrica Peña told us that Barboza was more than just their boss.

Patricia Pena, Nurse
"Dr. Barboza especially for us here at Northern Medical Plaza, he was a great doctor, what could I say, especially for nursing. He was the one in charge of the emergency department in which he performed a very, very good job all the nurses really, really enjoyed working with him. Most of the time he'd spend there at nursing, with his patients he was loving he would always find a solution for his patients, wherever the patient lived, he attended to them, the patient would go satisfied, the doctor would always find a solution for their problem. What we could say is I'm talking about all the nurses he was there for all of us, whenever you have a problem he would find a solution. He would hear your problems he would be there for you and I'm talking about each of us individually, you would go he would tell you: "come to my office." You would sit there with him and if you wanted to talk talk, he would be there to hear you."

And while he showed an uncanny reserve of compassion, he also had a passion for the past. As a young boy, Barboza would visit a grandfather who lived in Libertad village, while there he delighted in learning about medicinal plants and home remedies. And that spark could have very well kick-started his journey into medicine.

Yahira Vega, President, Northern Mayan Association
"His profession as a medical practitioner of course might have sparked that interest to know different forms of medicinal practice that was around in history because this indigenous knowledge that was passed onto him by his grandfather to us we know as our heritage that's part of our heritage."

"All of the contributions that he has made throughout, all of the knowledge that he has shared with us, all of the sincerity, that is something that we will miss because he would always contribute."

"We often value the input of our elders because we are young there's a lot that we don't know about our heritage and it's the elders we depend on to teach us and to help us to learn our heritage correctly so that we may preserve and teach it to others."

In his later years, Barboza became that wise old elder. And while he couldn't have known he'd be swept away by the pandemic he seems to have made sure to leave a legacy.

A release from the Belize Medical and Dental Association says quote: "Dr. Baldomino Barboza championed…many causes for his colleagues. He was actively involved in improving their working conditions and was able to secure them improved salaries, and on-call allowances." End quote.

At the end of that release the organization bid farewell to the great man in English as well as the Mayan language that had been so dear to him.

Channel 7

A beautiful tribute to Dr. Barboza by his childhood friend, fellow cultural crusader and Chair Lady of To'one Masehalo'on NGO.

RIP my dear Dr. BARBOZA.

The members of To'one Masehualoon NGO joins the nation of Belize, his loving wife Luz, children and family members of our dear brother and friend Dr. BALDOMINO BARBOZA, in these moments of profound sadness in which his untimely passing due to Covid 19 has left us with deep longing for his kind smiles, wisdom, love and caring.

Our dear doc was a beloved medical physician, who had a love for his family, his nation of Belize , love for humanity, love for Belize history and instilled the pride of his Yucatec Maya heritage where ever he ventured.

He was a champion in cultural preservation and remained very active as a member of To'one Masehualoon NGO to further this mission while keeping his life passion of bringing healing to the sick in Belize.

We are forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked, learned and spend wonderful moments with such a shinning shooting star across the horizon of our lives.

RIP my dear friend and dear cousin. Thanks for the warm memories. Ms Adelita.


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