The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belize, with support from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, made significant strides in addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health through the regional project, Leave No One Behind: Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy. This initiative, which focuses on one of Belize's most vulnerable populations, aims to strengthen access to sexual and reproductive health, enhance information on sexual education through training and peer education and capacity building on youth empowerment and participation for young people to know and understand their rights and access.
As a result, in the framework of the project, the Ministry of Health and Wellness benefitted from a donation of critical medical supplies for distribution where there is a gap in maternal and reproductive healthcare delivery in the districts where the project is being implemented.The donation included essential tools such as vaginal speculums of various sizes, forceps, scalpels, and Levonorgestrel tablets, among others. These supplies are intended to improve the quality and accessibility of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, particularly for adolescents and women in rural communities. This contribution reflects UNFPA’s unwavering commitment to strengthening Belize’s healthcare system and ensuring that no one is left behind.
In addition to improving healthcare services, the project also emphasizes sexual and reproductive health education, empowering young girls and boys to make informed decisions about their well-being. As part of these efforts, UNFPA hosted training for healthcare workers, where 110 participants enhanced their knowledge and skill set through Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS), strategy training and Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) training. These sessions equipped healthcare providers with the necessary tools to better manage reproductive health services and offer reliable contraceptive options to adolescents and women. The training sessions are a critical part of UNFPA’s broader strategy to improve service delivery and access to healthcare in the region.
Apart from healthcare workers, a total of twenty-two (22) peer educators from across Belize participated in a training of trainers (ToT) session to enhance their capacity to train both in-school and out-of-school youth, using the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) manual developed by the Belize Family Life Association (BFLA) and UNFPA. The two three-day ToT sessions, in Belize City and Punta Gorda Town, focused on life skills education. The goals of these sessions were to strengthen their ability to deliver life skills and health training, empowering young people to safeguard their health, advocate for their well-being, and uphold their dignity.
Through this partnership between UNFPA and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, healthcare systems are being strengthened, healthcare workers and youths are being empowered, and Belize's adolescents are receiving the care, education, and support they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and wellbeing.
