The Ministry of Health received a much-needed donation of 11 new late model Toyota Hilux 4×4 pickup trucks courtesy of the European Union (EU) in collaboration with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) during a handing over ceremony which was held today at the Belize Diesel and Equipment compound in Belmopan.
According to the Ministry, the vehicles – which will be utilized by the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health – will be used to assist the health workers of the program in interventions, surveillance, treatment and compliance-enforcement efforts for vector control in both the urban and rural communities across the country.
Technical Advisor in the Vector Control Unit, Kim Bautista, explained how the vehicles will be used to work towards a healthier and productive population, particularly as it relates to vector-borne diseases.
He said, “The vehicles that are being handed over today will go directly to the vector control units in the six districts, and so we should see a direct strengthening of surveillance in the communities, as well as other activities such as ULV spraying, or fogging activities. The project currently includes an additional six ULV machines; each one of those machines comes at a cost of $10,000 USD, and so that should bring the total amount of fogging machines in the country up to 22, which will give us the ability to not only fit all the regions with at least 2 machines per district, including the islands, but it will also allow us to have in stock in terms of emergency equipment in the event of a natural disaster.”
Dr. Gerardo De Cosio, the PAHO/WHO Representative for Belize, mentioned that they are glad to once again partner with the Ministry of Health towards the goal of a healthier community through prevention and control fogging activities around the country which should contribute to reducing the number of cases of dengue, and the number of cases of malaria, while Ministry of Health Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Peter Allen, explained how the Ministry is benefitting from the partnership with the EU.
“This is particularly helpful in our fight against dengue, against malaria and against the new threat of Chikungunya, but we also have a $6 million grant for maternal and neonatal health – the morbidity and mortality of babies and mothers, that is being implemented as we speak. A contract is about to be signed for a new vaccine storage building in Belmopan – again with a grant from the EU and counterpart funding from the Government of Belize. That particular grant also buys important medical supplies and equipment for incubators and other supplies for babies and mothers, and it allows us to extend laboratory function in Punta Gorda, in Orange Walk and in Corozal”, Allen stated.
“The Strengthening of the Prevention and Control of Dengue and Malaria in Belize” project was signed on December 17, 2013 between the European Union and the Pan American Health Organization with the Ministry of Health as the implementing partner.
The project also includes training for the management and maintenance of the vehicles at a total cost of BZ $2, 280,345.77, while the vehicles have a total estimated value of BZ$720,000.
The donation is part of a contribution agreement by the European Union to improve and upgrade the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health, especially since the rainy season has started, which means that vectors, in this case mosquitoes, that carry diseases such as Malaria and Dengue, will occupy spaces such as containers with stagnant water which allow them to breed and spread the deadly diseases.
In early May of this year, a 2005 4-cylinder silver diesel Toyota Hilux pickup truck with the word “HECOPAB” labeled on the two front doors was stolen from the Ministry of Health’s parking lot in Belmopan in the wee hours of the morning.
Unfortunately, that vehicle has not been recovered since.