Health
August Blood Drive Yields 18 Pints
On Saturday, August 2nd, the San Pedro Community Blood Drive Group held a successful blood drive at the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II, collecting 18 pints of blood. The local blood drive group organizes regular drives to help build the supply at the national blood bank. Saturday’s event, held from 8AM to 2:30PM, saw many prospective donors making their way to the polyclinic to be screened for eligibility.
Health
PAHO/WHO partners with Belize in the New “Towards a Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Latin America” Initiative
Belize has been selected as one of four countries to participate in a landmark regional effort: “Towards a Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Latin America” Initiative, spearheaded by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW). This strategic initiative aimed to bolster national efforts to reduce the health, economic, and environmental burden of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke, while reinforcing global commitments to public health and sustainability, building on the 2020 South America smoke-free milestone.
Health
Measles Contained in Belize as Public Health Measures Prove Effective
On July 21, 2025, Belize’s health officials reported no new measles cases for more than two full incubation periods. This marks the formal end of the outbreak that began in early April and resulted in 34 confirmed cases, primarily in the Corozal and Cayo districts. The outbreak was initially linked to tourists returning from Mexico and affected only unvaccinated individuals.
Health
MoHW Introduces Rotavirus Vaccine to Belize’s National Vaccination Schedule
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) announces the introduction of the Rotavirus vaccine to Belize’s National Vaccination Schedule, a vital step in reducing preventable diarrheal illnesses in children.
The symptoms of the rotavirus infection include diarrhoea, vomiting, and severe dehydration. These symptoms can significantly impact children’s health and long-term well-being.
Health
Sargassum Surge in San Pedro Raises Public Health Concerns
For the last few months, the surge of sargassum along Belize’s coast has triggered mounting health concerns, especially in San Pedro Town. Beaches once drew crowds, but they now face a relentless assault from brown, decomposing mats of seaweed, posing not only environmental and economic threats but an escalating risk to public health.
Health
PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health and Wellness Join Forces to Strengthen Mental Health Services in Belize
In an effort to expand access to quality mental health services in Belize, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and funding support from the European Union-Funded Health Sector Support Programme Project, launched a four-day Training of Trainers Workshop on the WHO’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) 2.0 for psychiatric nurse practitioners and medical officers from all health regions, countrywide.
Government
MoHW and UNICEF Strengthen Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Through Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Training
The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MoHW), through its Mental Health Unit, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a strategic training initiative on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)—an evidence-based psychological intervention proven effective in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioural issues in young people.
Health
Noncommunicable disease deaths in the Americas have risen 43% since 2000, PAHO report shows
Deaths from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, have surged by 43% in the Americas since 2000, reaching 6 million in 2021, according to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) NCDs at a Glance 2025 report.
