Health ministers meet in Belize
Although all of the countries in our region have a Ministry of Health or its equivalent, there are some issues that transcend political borders. That is why each year representatives from individual countries gather to compare notes and seek collaboration with their neighbours. This year it’s Belize’s turn to once again host the RESSCAD meeting. News Five was at the Radisson today to find out how things have changed since 1997.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Since 1984 health ministers from throughout Central America have been working together to address health issues affecting the region. Today the annual meeting got underway in Belize. Pan American Health Director, Mirta Roses Periago says the gathering is a comprehensive approach of the region’s health sectors because it includes the participation of authorities representing both social security and water institutions. Periago highlighted just some of the priority areas of concern
Mirta Roses Periago, Director, PAHO
“I would say that issues related to the extension of the social protection in health, access to water and sanitation, maternal mortality, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis are part of this agenda also. But also the ministers have included issues of relevance like dengue, access to essential medicines, lowering the cost of the essential medicines and also some of the things that require sustained investment and joint action like immunisation programmes.”
Belize?s Health Minister Vildo Marin says while many strides have been made in improving the country’s health sector there is still more work that needs to be done.
Vildo Marin, Minister of Health
“Of course I believe that we need to do more as it relates to education and prevention of diseases. And that’s where I believed that the media will be helping us in the very near future.”
“Well we have come along way indeed. Our government has been investing money year after year in the health sector and certainly it is showing and we will continue to address those issues.”
Health is also an issue of concern to the Social Security Board, an important stakeholder in that sector.
Narda Garcia, General Manager, Social Security Board
“Particularly in Belize, we provides services to our insured persons through the employment injury branch and now we are involved in the National Health Insurance, so it’s a way to participate in the discussions in policy making for the health sector in the region.”
The two-day meeting is taking place under the theme: Investing in Health within the Framework of the Millennium Development Goals. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.
