Cozumel News May 31st, 2014

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Cozumel News May 31^st, 2014: Campaign to dispose of old Mattresses and Bed Frames, Cozumel Harbor Master Reviews Emergency Procedures, Children’s Immunization Program this Past week, Cozumel General Hospital gets a Grant, A Mini Guide to Cozumel General Hospital,  Puerto de Abrigo Marina changes, and a Reminder to My Readers.. I want to take the opportunity to let you know that the recent alert placed on counterfeit $100 United States bills was FALSE. The very last article is from me, “A Reminder to My Readers.” It is very important that everyone read this!

Mattress and Bed Base Collection

The Government branch in charge of recycling announced a campaign to collect unwanted mattresses and bed bases. The campaign is scheduled to run from June 2^nd-14^th trying to get ahead of the rainy season.  If you wish to dispose of a mattress and/or bed frame, contact CAMAR by leaving a message in What App at 987-118-1544. They will need your address and a place reference to help them find you. This is usually the color of your house and gate and if there is a business on the corner or across the street that will make it easier for them to find your home. They will come directly to you to pick up your mattress and/or bed base, your only task is to bring them out to the street.

Playa Azul Hotel Restaurant:

Desayuno Buffet 2 x 1 de 7:00 a.m. a 10:00 a.m.

*Promoción valida con la hoja impresa de la promoción.

Harbor Master Reviews Emergency Process

In a recent interview with the Harbor Master, he expressed concern that he NOT be contacted in case of emergency, because their office forwards all emergencies to the Naval Search and Rescue.  The proper procedure for emergencies at sea are to contact the Naval Search and Rescue directly, saving valuable time. Naval Search and Rescue can be reached in Marine Band Radio Channel 16 VHF or 987-869-0844.

Children’s Immunization Campaign All This Week

The Second National Health Week 2014 took place this week on the island. Children, depending on their age, received immunization against a variety of diseases including polio this week.  As an example, 11-year-old girls were given a dose of vitamin A, Albendazol and Folic Acid for prevention of cervical cancer.  Booths were set up at IMSS, Chedraui, Aurelia, Soriana, and some educational institutions to reach as many children as possible. All parents had to do was show up with the child and their health card. These immunizations are free of charge.

General Hospital Grant

Arturo Villanueva Marrufo, Director of Cozumel General Hospital announced they are receiving a 40 million peso government grant to remodel the hospital. The project will consist of expanding Intensive Care, Upgrading X-Ray equipment, maintenance of their air conditioning equipment, creating a space for other specialties, and possibly expanding the number of beds. Currently the hospital serves 33% of the population with only 30 inpatient beds and 18 beds in the emergency rooms. They have two operating rooms.

The Director spoke of a proposal to reinforce the second and third level of care and hopes to add a third level of specialties in the areas of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Diagnosis support studies such as MRI. The decisions will be based on past inquiries and requests. In some cases it is more economically feasible to pay to transfer a patient to another branch of the hospital in a bigger city.

A Mini Guide to Cozumel General Hospital

I have written about Cozumel General Hospital many times in the last eight years. It leaves a lot to be desired in appearance and supplies. However, you will find the same Doctors that work full-time at the private clinics taking their turn at General. In addition, new Doctors come from The Major medical schools to put in their community service. This is how Cozumel has been blessed with many great Doctors, who fall in love with the island and decide to stay permanently.

I remember one year my husband who is a diabetic had an ingrown toenail that needed to be removed. In a diabetic, this can lead to a life and death situation fast. I rushed him to a private clinic that removed his toe nail and to my dismay charged close to two thousand pesos. The procedure took minutes. A few years later we had the same problem, this time two toenails. I went to Cozumel General they told us we had to wait a few hours for the surgeon to get there. Guess what? The same surgeon showed up, removed the two nails, if my memory serves me right, the charge was around 300 pesos.

One of my first stories I wrote in 2006 was about Cozumel General Hospital saving my husband’s life. He was in there for I believe 8 or 9 days and my cost was under five hundred dollars. Now, let me explain that I took my bed linens, pillows, and blankets. I was at my husband’s side 24/7 he does not speak Spanish and they did not speak English. The kitchen had no clue what a diabetic diet was, I did my monitoring and feeding. I helped him with his bathing and bathroom needs. I also made a number of successful runs to pharmacies in search of medicine that the hospital did not have on hand.

My Mother was in Cozumel General several times before her death from complications from Alzheimer’s. Once again, we had family there 24/7. The nurses are there to help you in providing the nursing care. In other words, I changed the diapers, I bathe Mom, and I fed Mom her meals with the nurses’ help if I needed it.

The medical profession pays very small wages in Mexico. The night shift at these hospitals is coming from a day shift somewhere, not home. So at night-time, they will all find somewhere to get comfortable in and sleep.

The hospital is strict with visiting hours and the number of visitors because space in the wards is an issue. They will make exceptions if your circumstances allow and you speak to the right person. At night-time, I had to turn in identification to be given a pass that had to be worn.

New SPECIAS Restaurant

Seafood Specialties
Chef Francesco
3rd South between 5th & 10th
Thursdays – Tuesdays 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Closed Wednesdays

Puerto de Abrigo Marina Changes

Víctor Vivas González, Director of Apiqroo Cozumel announced that Apiqroo will no longer subsidize water and electricity usage at Puerto de Abrigo Marina. Apparently, this State Agency has been subsidizing the cost of these utilities to keep down the cost charged to boat owners.

They are going to calculate their current usage of water and electricity per boat, and check this usage for its accuracy from June 2^nd -30^th. Each of the 150 boats docked at the Marina will be given a monthly charge that reflects an exact number of gallons of water and kilowatts of electricity that they can use for the month.

Cozumel does not use the Universal dollar per foot calculation used around the world in Marinas to calculate how much to charge boat owners. There was a figure of $4,000-$5,000 pesos for larger boats and $400-$600 pesos for the small boats known as “balleneras” as a monthly charge, but it was not clear if this is the current charge for utilities or the amount Apiqroo is subsidizing. (“Balleneras” translates to whaling).

In any event, Mr. Vivas González says there are boat owners that connect their boats and start-up their air conditioning around five or six in the evening and let it run all night so the boat will be cool when they return the next day. He stated that it is not fair for the State to be paying for this usage. Boats can use all the electricity and water that they want, but will be charged for any amount used above their monthly calculated allotment.

Also new at Puerto de Abrigo Marina is new mesh placement around the marina, installation of video cameras, and electronic cards to be used for entry.  Darn! There goes another one of our free family field trips!

Cozumel Health

Reminder to My Readers

I want to remind my readers that my articles come mainly from newspapers such as Por Esto, Novedades, El Semanario, Diario De Quintana Roo, Sol Sterio Radio Station (Also seen in Cablemas) and Primero Noticias Televisa (television). As a registered member of the press, I get press releases from the government. I translate to the best of my ability what I think will be of interest to people who visit Cozumel and of use to my readers that live in Cozumel.

I am a guest of this beautiful Country; I cannot as a guest, get involved in political issues or controversies. If I want a platform to cause change, I will go back to my Country and as a Citizen state my complaints and take the necessary actions to try to effect a change. Lord knows there are enough problems everywhere in the world that need fixing.

On the other hand, I am not the source of positive information in Cozumel. If there is anything that local residents and visitors should be warned about, it is my moral obligation to do so. I will do so armed with facts, tactfully, and fairly. The Cozumel Sun has no obligations to anyone, even my sponsors.

I advertise for businesses I believe in, go to, and patronize. I charge a very low fee, just enough to help me offset some of my expenses. For all practical purposes, I am non-profit. In the course of visiting the places that advertise with the Sun, they get back the few dollars they pay each month. Some of my Sponsors do not pay a cent, they cannot afford to and I am helping as a community service. Everyone on the “Service Provider” listing has free advertising, I do not charge, and I will remove anyone that is proven to commit an infraction against a consumer. The Cozumel Sun provides news and information with the help of advertising, not the reverse.

My number one priority is my family. I am the head of a family of seven. My husband is a stroke survivor and right-side paralyzed so I am in charge of a household that includes an American Senior we adopted as a sister, and a Mexican Family of four. My husband Charles and I could not love these people more. Our unique extended family unit enables me to tell my readers about all sorts of experiences as we make ends meet here in paradise with never a dull moment! We do not have much money, but we are wealthy in love!

I am a one woman show. There is no staff, editors, translators, I do it all. There are no administrators monitoring my Facebook pages and group, just me. The newspapers here are different. Some show nudity and corpses with no regards to the family. The correct spelling of names and having all the information accurately is not a priority. Sometimes the articles leave out the “Where” of the story. If I do not give all the usual journalistic elements needed for a good story, I did not find it. If I misspelled a person’s name, please forgive me, there are just not enough hours to check out every detail and get the news out to you in a timely fashion. Mind you, I try my hardest to get it right, there is a lot if things that I correct, identify as unproven, unfair, and untrue and omit from a story, or not write about at all.

I want to thank the many readers that have Emailed and telephoned me to compliment and thank me for the articles in The Cozumel Sun. I am honored, especially since so many of you have reached out from abroad! You have made me so proud and happy of this labor of love! You have given me the strength to continue when I have gotten discouraged, and remind me that it is all worthwhile.

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