Belize Health Minister Discusses Situation in Belize

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 05 Jul 2004 - 14:00 PDT

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With communicable diseases increasingly under control in Belize, chronic diseases along with problems linked to behavior and lifestyle remain significant, according to Dr. Vildo Marin, minister of health and communications of Belize.

Speaking at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today, Marin said the major policies for the health sector include allocation of resources, integrating the role of public and private sectors, quality and equity of services and financing to address these issues. Of particular importance is financing of National Health Insurance, which is being established under the Social Security Board as a purchaser of Primary Health Care Services.

He cited several successes, noting that malaria cases dropped from 10,000 in 1993 to 1,000 in 2003, gastroenteritis cases in children declined due to increased access to clean water, and the infant mortality rate shows a steady decline.

The leading causes of morbidity in Belize include lifestyle problems such as hypertension, diabetes, violence, abortion and suicide, along with cardiovascular diseases, nutritional deficiencies and road traffic crashes. The leading cause of hospitalization is complications in pregnancy. "Our modern lifestyles have created new patterns of disease," Marin said. "We have become the victims of our own successes."

The minister also pointed to HIV/AIDS as an exception to the control of communicable diseases, saying that the trend in an increase of infected individuals is "troubling and worrisome." Although Belize initiated a campaign for free antiretroviral therapy treatment, the stigma and discrimination associated with AIDS patients remains a hindrance. Marin added that a massive campaign to increase the use of voluntary counseling and testing centers has been established to deal with these issues.

In the areas of HIV/AIDS and lifestyle related illnesses and deaths, the minister emphasized Belize's young population of which 61 percent is under 25. Marin recommended the need for increased education and participation of the public on the subject of health sector reform.

The minister also highlighted the importance of improving health inequities and noted that Toledo, the poorest district of Belize also has the highest infant mortality and growth retardation along with the lowest coverage of water and sanitation. The government is seeking to improve this inequity by opening up the district to trade and commerce through the creation of a highway, and also hopes that providing National Health Insurance will lead to successes. "We have everything in place to reach that goal of equity," he said.

According to Marin, Belize's vision of health sector reform includes the "objective to improve equity, accessibility, efficiency, sustainability" and engage "in effective partnerships with all levels of the government in order to develop and maintain an environment conducive to good health."

The minister emphasized his desire to work with PAHO and other international organizations and countries to achieve this goal. "This objective cannot be done only by the government of Belize," he said. "It can only be done if we work together."

The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the regional office of the World Health Organization.

For more information, video material, or photographs please contact: Marina Eisner, tel (202) 974- 3172, fax (202) 974-3143, Public Information, e-mail: eisnerma@paho.org.

Pan American Health Organization