By William Ysaguirre
(Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Oct. 30, 2025
  Belizeans living with Type-2 diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will now have easier access to health care and treatment at their nearest polyclinic or community health clinic through a new project funded by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), which the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) launched in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness on Tuesday, October 28.
  The Diabetes Care Integration Project will integrate diabetes management services into primary healthcare facilities nationwide to ensure that communities have better access to effective care and prevention. Both ministry and PAHO officials have evaluated current practices firsthand to determine how diabetes care can be better integrated into everyday healthcare services, by visiting rural and urban health centers. The team saw how local health centers are managing diabetes care during their site visits, as they gained valuable insights into what works best, and identified the gaps in services and care across the country, which need strengthening.
  The project assembled more than 40 healthcare professionals, pharmacists, primary care and medical coordinators, administrators, and internists at a comprehensive diabetes care workshop to strengthen their expertise in diabetes care. Together they discussed the Global Diabetes Pact, an international initiative to improve diabetes care. They also created a practical road map for rolling out a diabetes clinical pathway that will match the needs and resources of Belize’s healthcare system.
  The goal is to train healthcare workers and enhance local health systems to deliver better healthcare delivery for diabetes patients, and those with other conditions which are gateways to diabetes. This initiative aims to reduce the impact of diabetes, prevent complications, and improve patients’ overall health results, thereby improving their quality of life.
  The PAHO/WHO is committed to helping Belize strengthen its healthcare system and provide sustainable, long-term solutions to diabetes care.
