UNHCR successfully implemented its portion of the COVID-19 Joint Programme in Belize, funded by the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund. The purpose of the plan was to assist government and rural communities in Belize in (i) halting the transmission of the COVID-19 in government-selected priority rural areas; and (ii) reducing the impact on human lives, by facilitating access to safe health services.
In 2020, 206,435 people (49% of population) were reached through joint actions, including an estimated 2,823 of people of concern to UNHCR.
UNHCR contributed to upgrading the National Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy along with a new repository of ready-to-use COVID-19 messages tailored to the specific target groups, with a growing stock of other communication products available. In addition, progress was also made in occupational safety and health with the completion of the ILO campaigns on COIVD-19 in the workplace.
UNHCR provided safe isolation services to the most vulnerable people, including refugees and asylum-seekers. Through the collaborative identification and procurement efforts of PAHO/WHO and UNHCR, medical equipment and personal protective equipment were handed over to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to be delivered to state-managed regional isolation facilities in the Central Health Region (PAHO/WHO) and Western Health Region. This contributed to strengthening the capacity of the health sector in managing COVID-19 cases. UNHCR provided an additional adjusted package of medical equipment and supplies, emergency beds and space dividers to the isolation area of the Rural Health Centre of Valley of Peace, one of the few community-based COVID-19 isolation facilities in Belize.
UNHCR delivered 100 out of 250 COVID-19 kits to community health workers for their response and/or referral of vulnerable COVID-19 patients.
Also, UNHCR assisted additional health facilities in Independence, Bella Vista, San Juan-Cowpen, San Isidro, Trio and Santa Cruz that host some 20% of all people of concern to UNHCR in Belize.