The Belize Children’s Project has been in existence since 1972 and is an ongoing project Belize Children’s Project of the Rotary Club of Belmopan. Through this project, which is done in collaboration with Rotary clubs in Southern Illinois and Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis, children throughout Belize suffering from bone abnormalities such as curvature of the spine, shortness in one leg, difficulty in walking, club foot, etc. have been assisted with surgical treatment to improve their quality of life. To date about 400 children have benefited from this program.
Each year, a clinic is held countrywide with a visiting orthopedic doctor to assess the new children brought in and revisit children currently in the program. Some children will be selected for the first time and while others return for follow-up visits. Once a child has been accepted into the program, there is a commitment to follow up with that child’s progress until he or she is 18 years old. The annual clinics held this year resulted in additional children were selected to become part of the project.