Non-Communicable Diseases a Leading Cause of Death in Belize

According to data from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, non communicable diseases represent three of the five leading causes of death in Belize. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is using health education as a means of addressing the problem, by arming Belizeans with relevant information to make healthier choices with respect to their eating habits and lifestyle. Kathleen Azueta-Cho, Technical Advisor for the Ministry’s Health Education and Community Participation Bureau, told Love News that the COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on non-communicable diseases in Belize as many were not accessing health services. Azueta Cho said that the Ministry is now working to increase access to health education for Belizeans by collaborating with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on its recently launched Health Lifestyle Caravan Initiative. A major focus of the Ministry’s health education efforts is heart disease, which was the number one killer of Belizeans according to the data.

Azueta Cho added that the health education campaigns have to be tailored to specific demographics to ensure that Belizeans of all ages know what their risk factors are and what can be done to decrease those risks.

The caravan was launched on September 16 and was in Crooked Tree Village on Saturday, September 23. The caravan heads to Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk district, tomorrow.