Belize Health Agenda 2007-2011
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Ministry of Health Belize NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN HEALTH AGENDA 2007 – 2011 November 2006 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Ministry of Health gratefully acknowledges the contribution of all those persons who made the development and publication of this National Health Plan possible. This comprehensive plan truly represents the trust of the health sector reform and the renewal of the commitment to the primary health care strategy as the means to the attainment of equal health for all. The National Health Plan was coordinated, compiled and edited by Ministry of Health National Health Plan Task Force: Dr. Errol Vanzie Former Director of Health Services Dr. Jorge Polanco Director of Health Services (Ag) Dr. Paul Edwards Deputy Director of Health Services (Ag) Dr. Peter Allen Director, Policy Analysis and Planning Unit Dr. Michael Pitts Ministry of Health Dr. Alfonso Ayala Health Planner Mr. Englebert Emmanuel Biostatistician Ms. Michelle Cox Hoare Quality Assurance Coordinator/Nurse Surveyor Ms. Marjorie Parks Deputy Director of Health Services Ms. Rosalie Saldivar Administrative Officer Ms. Michelle Vanzie Health Economist Special thanks are extended to the following: Regional Health Managers Deputy Regional Health Managers Technical Advisors PAHO Representative, Consultants and Technical Advisors Staff of the Epidemiology Unit Chief Executive Officer, Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, and the Directors Thanks for typing and editing done by: Ms. Lisa Miranda Ms. Nevia Quewell Ms. Karen Gibson A special thanks to all those who contributed in making this National Health Plan a reality. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..................................................................................................................... ii FOREWORD.......................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 2 I. HEALTH SITUATION ANALYSIS ................................................................................................ 4 A. COUNTRY PROFILE ................................................................................................................................................. 4 B. DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................................4 i. Population Size, Growth and Composition............................................................................................................. 4 C. ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.......................................................................................................................... 6 D. SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................................................. 8 i. Poverty ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 ii. Unemployed Labour Force...................................................................................................................................... 8 iii. Crime ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8 iv. Education ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 E. SOCIAL INDICATORS............................................................................................................................................... 9 F. LEADING HEALTH DETERMINANTS................................................................................................................. 10 G. MORTALITY TRENDS AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES ........................................................... 11 H. HEALTH PROBLEMS ............................................................................................................................................. 12 i. Children 0-4 years................................................................................................................................................... 12 ii. Children 5-9 years old............................................................................................................................................ 12 iii. Adolescent (10-14 and 15-19 years) ..................................................................................................................... 13 iv. Adults (20-59 years) .............................................................................................................................................. 14 v. Elderly (60 years old and older)............................................................................................................................ 14 I. FAMILY HEALTH ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 J. OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH .................................................................................................................................... 15 K. THE DISABLED........................................................................................................................................................ 15 L. ETHNIC GROUPS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ................................................................................................ 16 M. VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES ................................................................................................................................ 16 N. VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES................................................................................................................. 16 O. INTESTINAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES................................................................................................................ 17 P. ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS ................................................................................................................. 17 Q. HIV/AIDS ................................................................................................................................................................... 17 R. ZOONOSES................................................................................................................................................................ 18 S. NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES...................................................................................................................... 19 T. MENTAL HEALTH, ALCOHOLISM, AND DRUG ADDICTION ...................................................................... 19 U. EFFECTS OF PESTICIDES AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS...................................... 19 V. ORAL HEALTH ........................................................................................................................................................ 20 II. HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT....................................................... 20 A. HEALTH SERVICES................................................................................................................................................ 20 B. ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH FUNCTIONS...................................................................................................... 23 C. LEGISLATION.......................................................................................................................................................... 24 D. HEALTH SYSTEM.................................................................................................................................................... 25 E. ORGANIZATION AND ORGANOGRAM ............................................................................................................. 26 G. HUMAN RESOURCES............................................................................................................................................. 27 H. HOSPITAL PRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................... 29 i. Hospital Base Production ....................................................................................................................................... 29 ii. Non Hospital Base Production .............................................................................................................................. 29 III. NATIONAL PROGRAMMATIC HEALTH AREAS............................................................... 30 A. NATIONAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ....................................................................................................................... 30 B. NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITIES....................................................................................................................... 31 iii C. NATIONAL HEALTH GOALS................................................................................................................................ 31 D. TECHNICAL AREAS ............................................................................................................................................... 32 i. EPIDEMIOLOGY .................................................................................................................................................