PAHO supported Belize in tobacco control in line with the internationally accepted strategies through the finalization and tabling of comprehensive tobacco control legislation and the expansion of cessation services.  

Technical cooperation focused on supporting the MoHW to finalize the national tobacco control bill and prepare it for parliamentary consideration, alongside sensitization sessions with key stakeholders to build political and public support. In parallel, PAHO supported capacity building for 37 health care providers to deliver tobacco dependence treatment at the PHC level and strengthened district‑level implementation of tobacco control measures. Analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2024 further informed evidence‑based interventions to foster smoke‑free environments.  

This achievement demonstrates sustained political commitment to reducing NCD risk factors and positions Belize as a regional leader in comprehensive tobacco control. By strengthening policy, services, and surveillance simultaneously, PAHO contributed to creating an enabling environment for long‑term reductions in tobacco use, improved population health, and decreased burden of NCDs. 

Photo caption: A police officer sharing no-smoking information during the joint PAHO/Ministry of Health and Wellness campaign for World No Tobacco Day.

Credit: PAHO/Zenena Moguel