Dr. Marvin L. Manzanero

15/03/2026

It is tomorrow!

❤️ Blood Drive at La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital

Your donation can help save lives in our community. Join us for a Community Blood Donation Drive and help patients who depend on blood transfusions.

📍 La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital
📅 Sunday, March 15, 2026
🕘 Starting at 9:00 AM

✔ Walk in and donate — no appointment needed
✔ Bring a valid ID

🎁 All donors receive a FREE lab test voucher

Glucose • Cholesterol • Triglycerides
Creatinine • Uric Acid

One blood donation can save up to 3 lives.

👉 If you plan to donate, comment “I’ll be there!”

15/03/2026

Una invitación a la donación de sangre, esa unidad bien podria salvar una vida.

Esto es mañana en Loma La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital!

❤️ Donación de Sangre en La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital

Su donación puede ayudar a salvar vidas en nuestra comunidad. Únase a nuestra Jornada de Donación de Sangre.

📍 Lugar: La Loma Luz Adventist Hospital
📅 Fecha: Domingo, 15 de marzo de 2026
🕘 Hora: A partir de las 9:00 AM

✔ Llegue y done — no necesita cita
✔ Traiga una identificación oficial
✔ Proceso seguro y rápido

🎁 Todos los donantes recibirán un cupón para exámenes de laboratorio gratis, que incluye:
• Glucosa
• Colesterol
• Triglicéridos
• Creatinina
• Ácido úrico

Una sola donación puede salvar hasta 3 vidas.

👉 Si planea donar, escriba “¡Yo voy!” en los comentarios.

12/03/2026

6 yrs later…

Thank you!

Especially those health care workers who gave it their all!

Gracias totales!

08/03/2026

Happy day!

06/03/2026

Proper handwashing is always better than hand sanitizers.

While hand sanitizers can help in the absence of proper handwashing, do ensure that the hand sanitizer you are using is adequate and has the proper alcohol concentration. The scented ones with glitter may very well be providing just that!

04/03/2026

World Obesity Day

Obesity day is being observed today March 4th, this year's theme is 8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity!

Obesity is a rather complex disease beyond just caloric intake and as such requires multiple layers of intervention early on!

The 2025 World Obesity report indicates that 76% of Belizeans have a high body mass index and 45% of Belizeans are overweight! The 2026 report highlights that an estimated 34,000 Belizeans ages 10-19 years are either overweight or obese! A further economic analysis with 2019 data indicates that obesity costs an estimated 39.1 million USD with a project 12 fold increase by 2060 ($482.11 million USD)! Staggering figures!

Beyond the more traditional diseases linked to obesity such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, obesity is linked to multiple health issues such as osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cholelithiasis, MASLD (commonly known as fatty liver). Obesity is also linked to common cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic, esophageal and liver cancers, to name a few.

Many of the items related to obesity are modifiable risk factors and we can start a prevention measure by:
- Increasing our physical activity
- Modifying our caloric intake
- A balanced caloric intake
- Adequate sleep patterns.

Are you in the overweight or obese classification? What are we doing today, to modify our risk factors?

Obesity is linked to earlier mortality and overall increased morbidity!

Take action now!

27/02/2026

Condoms, when properly and consistently used ,are key in the prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

25/02/2026

Measles.

Yes we know the concern with visiting Mexico amidst the violence but we can’t forget the measles.

15/02/2026

Measles!

It is interesting to note the increased demand for measles vaccines by the Mexican population, this amidst increasing numbers this year.

Neighbouring Chetumal has reported 2 cases in 10 month twins; and so their call for vaccination has increased. Given the carnival and other massive public events they are having, it is certainly encouraging to see the long lines of people seeking vaccination.

Note that one measles case can go on to infect 12-18 others!

10/02/2026

IV Fluids

One of the common misconceptions that we tend to have is the 'miraculous IV fluids' that patients often demand so that they can feel better or under the assumption that it will boost your energy / appetite.

The truth is that IV fluids have specific medical indications and are not exempted from risks. For the most part, its use is limited to cases of dehydration, the administration of medications and the replacement of electrolytes (if an oral route cannot be tolerated by the patient).

Finally, IV fluids are not miraculous medications and as simple as it may seem, they really boil down to a sterile mixture of water and salt while others will contain dextrose and electrolytes.

So the next time you feel like you 'need' IV fluids, consult and ask the relevant questions - it could very well be, that you don't NEED it IV if you can take it orally. Under the same token, you as the patient, have all the right to ask why you are being given IV fluids?!

05/02/2026

World Cancer Day!

Today, February 4th, is not simply “just another cancer day”…

Today serves as a reminder that cancer is more than a disease. Families, finances, identity, mental and physical health, and all aspects of our lives are impacted by it!

Cancer transcends beyond the inmediate families of those affected, so today should serve as a reflection on what we can do to advance the cancer agenda!

What are we doing to prevent cancer? How can we prevent it?

Prevention is better than cure!

30/01/2026

This infographic is from WebMD but I would add to this, other important elements such as:

- Watch what you drink!
- Adequate sleep patterns!
- Take your medications as prescribed.

Control your blood pressure!

Before it is too late…