National Health Insurance symposium plans for post-COVID priorities

Published by BBNTEAM at February 14, 2023

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Posted: Tuesday, February 14, 2023. 10:45 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: Major national and international health organizations are beginning the planning for post-COVID priorities under the leadership of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

A national symposium, the sixth in NHI history, was held on Saturday in Belize City, under the joint organization of NHI, the Belize Medical and Dental Association (BMDA), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Belize Social Security Board (SSB).

The primary topic was critical health issues affecting Belizeans in the wake of the pandemic, chiefly non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the mental health strain on COVID patients and medical personnel, recommendations on antibiotic use, and mental health in the elderly.

Medical experts presented on the status of non-communicable diseases within Belize’s population in the three years since COVID-19 became a global public health threat. They also discussed emerging trends in the health needs of patients both domestically and internationally and the best practices that health officials at home and abroad have developed to try and meet that demand.

CEO in the office of the Prime Minister Narda Garcia told attendees, “After the battering that humanity took with this pandemic, life, and health profiles have changed. In some cases, existing problems have been made more acute, while other new health problems have come to the fore and must be addressed. The challenges of picking up the pieces for those that were afflicted with chronic non-communicable diseases is a huge one.”

NHI is presently available in Belize City, the Toledo District, and the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts, with the intent to eventually roll it out nationwide.

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