The Ministry of Health and Wellness has received new information and communication technology equipment aimed at strengthening maternal and child health services across the country.
The handover forms part of the regional “Strengthening the EMTCT Strategy within Maternal and Child Health Services” project, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and Chagas disease in the Caribbean.
Under the initiative, the ministry received ten desktop computers and a video projector to improve data management, surveillance, and laboratory coordination within the public health system. Health officials say the equipment will help frontline healthcare workers provide more efficient and timely care for mothers and children.
The project is funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund through the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and implemented by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization.
Belize has emerged as one of the Caribbean countries leading regional efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases. In 2024, Belize earned certification for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, alongside Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to PAHO, the wider regional project supports 15 Caribbean nations and focuses on strengthening maternal and child health leadership, improving laboratory services, and enhancing disease surveillance systems. Officials say reliable diagnostics and stronger health information systems are critical to achieving elimination goals across the region.
The initiative also comes amid concerns over rising congenital syphilis cases in the Americas. PAHO reported that cases increased significantly between 2016 and 2022, highlighting the need for stronger monitoring and prevention systems.
Regional health officials say the donation to Belize will support real-time data collection and monitoring, helping sustain the country’s progress while assisting other Caribbean nations working toward EMTCT certification.
PAHO says the broader disease elimination initiative aims to end more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
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