00:00And former President Xiomara Castro initiated the construction of eight new
00:04public hospitals in various regions of Honduras. However, the current government
00:07asserts that it will not complete them despite pressure from local communities
00:11and medical students. Gerardo Torres-Halaya reports from Tegucigalpa with the details.
00:19Setting instances of corruption, the administration of Nasrez Fura has stated
00:24that it will not complete the eight public hospitals initiated by Xiomara
00:28Castro. In Honduras, there are only 15 public hospitals for a population of 10
00:34million and the last one to be built was completed 40 years ago. Local
00:38communities and medical students are demanding their completion given the
00:43urgent need within the country. Given the highly precarious state of the
00:46country's current hospitals and the very limited resources available, the
00:51construction of these new hospitals should continue. Ultimately, it is the
00:55public and the students' interest that will complete our clinical rotations there.
01:00It is essential that all medical specialties be housed within a single hospital.
01:05There is significant unemployment in the healthcare sector and this project would
01:09expand opportunities for us as future physicians, ultimately benefiting the
01:13Honduran people.
01:14There is still no formal investigation into the alleged acts of corruption and many
01:18believe that the reason for not completing the hospitals stems from political
01:22interests, specifically a desire to avoid strengthening Castro's political legacy.
01:28During her term, President Xiomara Castro prioritized the construction of new hospital facilities, health
01:35centers, emergency centers, and primary care centers.
01:40In addition to general hospitals, specialized hospitals were being built. Citizens in the
01:45western part of the country are calling for the completion of a neonatal hospital in the
01:50department of Copan, on the border with Guatemala.
01:53I am from Santa Rosa de Copan, and in my opinion, it is quite important that the construction of
02:00these hospitals continues. I consider it very important that the neonatal hospital be completed.
02:07In response to pressure from local communities and medical professionals to complete the hospitals,
02:13several lawmakers from various political groups are working on a potential resolution to call
02:19for the continuation of these projects, though the final decision rests solely with the executive branch.
02:25From Tegucigalpa, Honduras, for Telesur in English, Gerardo Torres Zelaya.
