The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization(PAHO/WHO), the European Union (EU) and the Ministry of Health have been working together since February 2014 to strengthen prevention and control of vector diseases in Belize as well as to improve the quality of and access to health services for mothers and children. EU Ambassador Paola Amadei visited key health projects while there.
Under special cooperation agreements signed in 2013, PAHO/WHO, the EU and the Ministry of Health have been collaborating to strengthen prevention and control of dengue and malaria, under a 20-month project supported with €865,800.00.
According to PAHO/WHO, the project seeks to prevent and control vector borne diseases, thereby contributing to a healthier and productive population and also focuses on interventions designed to build the capacity of the vector control units as well as to strengthen participation at the community level using a Communication for Behavioral Impact (COMBI) strategy for an integrated vector management.
In addition, the Project will strengthen critical maternal and neonatal services, as part of a 30-month project supported with €2,138,769.66 and seeks to generally improve the quality of and access to health services and infrastructure for mothers and children under 5, with emphasis on preventing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Other goals include addressing the current gaps in maternal and neonatal services in order to build a comprehensive health services delivery network that provides care throughout the continuum of maternal, perinatal and neonatal health processes.
European Union Ambassador Paola Amadei was in Belize on 13 February 2014 to meet with public health officials and healthcare providers and will visit Northern Regional Hospital, the National Laboratory Facilities, and the Vector Control Unit in the Orange Walk district.
