Belize Aims for Dual Certification: Elimination of HIV and Syphilis Transmission from Mother to Child, a Global Recognition on the Horizon

A malaria-free status is not the only recognition Belize can look forward to.  There is also the elimination of HIV and Syphilis from child to mother that the country is also looking to achieve.  According to PAHO, only a few countries worldwide have achieved this status, including, seven in the Caribbean and six in the rest of the world.  Minister Bernard explained that this is a massive recognition on a global scale for Belize as it is a dual certification for both HIV and Syphilis.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “We are also in the process of towards achieving the elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis and that’s a major milestone. You know there are major milestones that the country can boast that we have been able to successfully do and this all thanks to the hard working healthcare workers, hard working nurses and doctors and field personnel that are out there on the ground making sure that we are looking and doing the necessary surveillance on these issues. And of course these things are not just done by Belize in the sense that we do the work on the ground but then these assessments are done by technical people that are hired by organizations such as PAHO, the World Health Organization that come in and make those assessments to verify that the data that they are getting is accurate and so I’m very happy that we are we are on our way to that and I think that we must thank all those involved to ensure that we can ultimately do so.”