Belize City, Belize, January 27, 2022 (PAHO) – Through funding from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and in cooperation with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), 460,000 masks were donated to be distributed to 22 ministries and organizations throughout Belize boosting their PPE supply.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how much we can achieve if we join forces,” said Katarzyna Geler-Noch, Consul and Second Secretary of the German Embassy. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Belizean health personnel and frontline workers who through their invaluable dedication, commitment, and unwavering efforts are an inspiration and a guiding light in the midst of this global pandemic. We hope that the donation will be of great utility to them and the Belizean people.”
It is through collaboration with partners like the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany that supports and strengthens a country’s response to COVID-19 in overcoming this pandemic.
“As we enter the third year of this pandemic, it is crucial not to let our guard down and maintain proper Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) measures,” said Dr. Noreen Jack, PAHO/WHO Representative in Belize. “We are now seeing various variants of COVID-19 and there is still a lot we don’t know, but what we do know is the use of masks, physical distancing, proper ventilation of indoor spaces, crowd avoidance and hand hygiene remain key to reducing the risks and spread of COVID-19 even with the emergence of the different variants.”
Thus, this substantial donation of masks is essential to keeping persons safe and slowing down the transmission of COVID-19. The following ministries and organizations received a shipment of masks to aid in the fight against COVID-19. This includes:
- Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
- Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW)
- Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMHA)
- National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)
- Belize Customs & Excise Department
- Port of Belize Limited
- Belize Defense Force
- Belize Cancer Society
- Belize Family Life Association (BFLA)
- Belize Red Cross Society
- Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI)
- Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Hub
- Haven House
- Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly
- Mercy Clinic
- Kolbe Foundation, Belize Central Prison
- The Salvation Army
- Golden Haven Resting Home
- Welcome Resource Center
- Raymond Parks Night Shelter
“We continue in this fight against COVID-19, but we cannot do so on our own,” said Dr. Julio Sabido, Chief Executive Officer of the MoHW. “Today, we are grateful for the continued partnership from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and PAHO/WHO. We remain focus and confident that these partnerships will help us overcome the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.”
