Communicable diseases along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions accounted for an estimated 19 per cent of all mortality in 2012. The prevalence of HIV in Belize, as a percentage of people aged 15–49 years, stood at 1.5 per cent in 2012 and overall prevalence has increased by more than seven times since 1990 (0.3 per cent). Confirmed cases of malaria in Belize have shown a dramatic decline in the period 2000–12. Estimated incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has remained largely unchanged in the period 1990–2012, while estimated mortality (when mortality data excludes cases comorbid with HIV) has seen significant fluctuation and in 2012 was double that of 1990. The most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses in Belize are mood disorders and schizophrenia. Health systems: Belize’s public spending on health was 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2011, equivalent to US$168 per capita. In the most recent survey, conducted between 1997 and 2010, there were 83 doctors, and 196 nurses and midwives per 100,000 people. Additionally, in the period 2007–12, 95 per cent of births were attended by qualified health staff and, in 2013, 99 per cent of oneyear olds were immunised with one dose of measles. In 2012, 99 per cent of the country’s population was using an improved drinking water source and 91 per cent had access to adequate sanitation facilities. The most recent survey, conducted in the period 2000–10, reports that Belize has 39 pharmaceutical personnel per 100,000 people. The public health system of Belize is made up of a network of seven district hospitals, divided into four regions. In total there are around 40 health centres and a further 40 posts. Private hospitals include La Loma Luz Hospital in the Cayo District and Universal Health Services in Belize City. Belize Medical Associates, a private hospital also located in Belize City, is considered to be the best equipped and most modern hospital in the country. The majority of pharmaceuticals within the country are imported from the USA due to the undeveloped domestic processing industry, which concentrates on finishing products from imported ingredients. The entire health, medical and pharmaceutical sector is governed by the Ministry of Health, which is run under the B e l i z e jurisdiction of the Public Health Act and the Health Services and Institutions Act. The most recent act relating to mental health in Belize is the Mental Health Act (1957). Health MDGs: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) mature in 2015, but monitoring of progress is ongoing due to the time it takes to collect and analyse data from each country. To achieve MDG4, Belize should have reduced under-five deaths per 1,000 live births to 13 and increased measles immunisation to 100 per cent when the 2015 data is analysed. In 2012 under-five mortality stood at 17 deaths per 1,000 live births and measles immunisation at 99 per cent, suggesting that Belize could achieve MDG 4 if it increased its rate of progress. Universal measles immunisation has almost been achieved. At its current trajectory, Belize is likely to meet the target for under-five mortality. The global MDG 5 target for maternal health is to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth by threequarters between 1990 and 2015. The maternal mortality in Belize, therefore, has to fall to 18 cases per 100,000 live births. In the period 2007–11 Belize had a reported maternal mortality ratio of 45 deaths per 100,000 live births (this figure was estimated at 53 deaths per 100,000 by UN agencies/World Bank in 2010). Based on the data reported by the country to date, this target is unlikely to be achieved when the 2015 data is analysed. Part of the goal also stipulates that 100 per cent of births must be attended by a 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 149 Under-five mortality 40 35 30 25 20 15 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Under-five mortality per 1,000 live births 2015 MDG 4 target 10 Life expectancy and HIV/AIDS 1980 1990 2000 2013 Prevalence of HIV/AIDS among those aged 15–49 Life expectancy Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population aged 15-49) Life expectancy in years 80 70 60 0.0 Mortality by cause of death (% of all deaths), 2012 Injuries Communicable diseases, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions Non-communicable diseases
Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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