Highlighting the Works of PAHO and European Union in Belize
Noreen Jack
The European Union and the Pan American Health Organization have been working closely with the Government of Belize in strengthening its healthcare system. To date, the EU has invested approximately eight million Euros in various projects that support the Ministry of Health and Wellness initiatives. In recognition of the continued partnership, a visibility event was held this evening at the Belize Biltmore Plaza to increase awareness of the Health Sector Support Program. Dr. Noreen Jack is the PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize. She spoke with News Five about various areas of cooperation. We also spoke with Minister of Health Michel Chebat.
Dr. Noreen Jack, PAHO/WHO Representative
“In one area it’s related to retrofitting health facilities to make them what we call smart, smart being safe and green and enabling them to be energy efficient, climate-resilient and able to continue providing services in the case of a disaster, for example a hurricane. The other component of it is related to the health system strengthening, organizing services, quality services for people using a primary healthcare approach. That is care close to where people live, in the communities where they live and using a system where you can pay attention to their needs, according to their needs at the primary healthcare, secondary or what we call tertiary, as KHMH.”
Michel Chebat
Michel Chebat, Minister of Health & Wellness
“Part of what we are doing here today is really highlighting some of the projects we’ve been working on together. The European Union has been contributing significantly, especially this year to help us with the fight against this COVID pandemic. Part of the ongoing projects that we have with them that is being handled by PAHO is the retrofitting of some of our hospitals to make them smart hospitals and climate-resilient. The European Union is also contributing to the purchase of some enclaves for us to dispose of some of our hospital waste and they’ve also been providing funds for PPEs and other medical supplies. And so today is really just to highlight some of the projects that we are working on together.”
