Ministry of Human Development assists cancer-affected Lords’ Bank family

By Aaron Humes: The Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has moved to assist a mother and daughter living in Lords’ Bank, Belize District.

The plight of Maria Jimenez, battling stage two kidney cancer since last March and bedridden, and her 12-year-old daughter, Naomi Ferguson, has made the airwaves of social and traditional media, the former via the page Ladyville Highlights and the latter LOVE FM.

Naomi is Maria’s sole caregiver, bathing, changing and feeding her and even playing cards with her to pass the time – “but I can’t complain,” she told a LOVE FM reporter this week.

The Ministry, headed by Belize Rural Central area representative Dolores Balderamos Garcia sent social workers to the dwelling of Jimenez on Good Friday and transported her by ambulance to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for immediate medical attention.

A social media statement from the Ministry says the family has been temporarily relocated amid plans to address their housing situation, which currently is a zinc and wooden makeshift house barely elevated off the ground.

This week, the proprietor of the Ladyville Highlights page delivered a cell phone to Naomi, a Standard Five student of Biscayne Government School who said she had not been getting her classwork as she lives too far away from Biscayne, located 19 miles from Lords Bank.

According to the Ladyville Highlights page, there has been a steady stream of donations pouring in and the intent is to start a bank account for the family.

The Ministry issued thank yous to Balderamos Garcia, Dr. Daniel Godinez, the Ladyville Police Department, the Ladyville Village Council, Agape House Ministry, our Social Workers, and the community for a “team effort.”