Belize City, Belize. April 15, 2026. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) of Belize, delivered targeted capacity building initiatives including advanced food safety and certification training, visitor-based and mass gathering surveillance and strengthening multisectoral stakeholder partnerships to build multisectoral capacity in Early Warning Surveillance and Response as well as Heathier, Safer Tourism. Ten (10) data-entry tablets, equipped with the CARPHA surveillance tools such as Tourism and Health Information System (THiS), Mass Gathering Surveillance System (MGSS), Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS) , Regional Integrated Early Warning Surveillance System (RIEWSS) and DHIS2 were officially handed over to the Chief Executive Officer of the MOHW, Dr. Julio Sabido and Director of Health Services, Dr. Melissa Diaz-Musa for distribution across various districts in Belize to support real-time surveillance, data collection and laboratory reporting. This investment is expected to significantly strengthen the country’s ability to detect, monitor and respond to public health threats efficiently.
This three-day mission in Belize, from April 13-15, 2026, was conducted by a five-member CARPHA delegation led by Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA Executive Director (ED), together with Dr. Sastee Kissoondan, Senior Technical Officer-Planning & Coordination in the Office of the ED, Mr. Keston Daniel, Coordinator, Regional Tourism and Health Program (THP), Ms. Samantha Llanos, Epidemiologist, Visitor Based Surveillance, and Ms. Frieda Mohammed, Training & Standards Officer, THP.
At the Opening Ceremony of the Advanced Food Safety Training and the Joint Media Conference, Dr. Indar, Executive Director emphasised the importance of building national capacity in food safety and public health preparedness, noting that initiatives like these are critical to protecting both residents and visitors, particularly during large-scale national events, highlighting, “Food Safety is crucial and what is important, is that food is safe for consumption. This is the work CARPHA is doing, equipping persons with the necessary knowledge to ensure food safety”. Dr. Laura Friesen, Deputy Director, Health Services, MOHW shared, “We are very grateful for the presence of the Executive Director of CARPHA and the team who have come to work with both tourism and health. Belize is highly dependent on tourism and the Advanced Food Safety Training will empower our food safety providers and the Ministry of Health staff to ensure that the food that is consumed and sold in public places is safe for the local population and visitors”.
Key achievements for enhancing Belize’s capacity for enhanced readiness and response to public health threats included high level advocacy, strategic and planning discussions through engagements with senior officials from the MOHW, Ministry of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations and Belize Tourism Board on strengthening intersectoral collaboration and enhancing health security measures, particularly in anticipation of mass gatherings such as the National Agriculture and Trade Show. Discussion revolved around implementation of CARPHA’s electronic early warning systems (EWS)-CVSS, MGSS and THiS to support realtime notification, coordinated response and overall enhanced public health response to safeguard the health and safety of both locals and visitors.
The rollout of the CVSS was completed, with in-depth discussions held with multi-disciplinary stakeholders (health, tourism, immigration and customs, port health) on the process pathways for cruise ship surveillance. A live on-board inspection to evaluate Belize’s cruise ships clearance process was also completed. Fourteen (14) participants completed specialized training aimed at strengthening Belize’s ability to monitor and respond to public health threats associated with maritime travel. The implementation of this system further supports the tourism sector by decreasing the clearance time and enabling immediate notification of public health threats and clearance decisions.
The Advanced Food Safety Training and International Certification brought together Public Health Inspectors, as well as representatives from eight (8) accommodations and food and beverage establishments. The facilities present included Grand Resort, Ramada Princess Hotel, Caribbean Beach Cabanas, the Point at Placencia, Cayo Espanto, Turtle Inn, Blancaneaux Resort Hotel and Blue Marlin Resort. A total of 31 participants completed the training and examinations. Successful candidates will receive internationally recognised certification in Advanced Food Safety, valid for five years. Capacity building and planning initiatives on the Mass Gathering Surveillance System (MGSS) toward readiness for the country’s Mass Gathering Events including the Agricultural Trade Show were facilitated with the MOHW surveillance teams.
Belize officially launched the THP in 2016, as one of the first six participating Member States, aiming to protect visitors and locals by addressing health, food safety, and environmental threats to tourism, enhancing visitor experience. These continued collaborative efforts underscore CARPHA’s continued commitment to supporting Belize in building resilient health systems, safeguarding public health, and ensuring a safe environment for both citizens and visitors. This mission was made possible through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project, “Reducing the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (RG-T4387)”.
About CARPHA-THP
CARPHA’s THP is a multifaceted programme that pioneers work for improving sustainable Caribbean tourism and health security, whilst engaging and collaborating with CARPHA Member States. The THP adopts a multisectoral approach for improving the resilience of the tourism industry and, by extension, the health sector of each participating country through surveillance, response, guidelines, capacity building, standards, policy, advocacy and partnerships, and a travellers’ health award and app. The THP strengthens regional and national health systems and enhances the health of visitor and resident populations by seeking to address the health, safety, and environmental sanitation threats to tourism. The programme has built capacity and equipped countries with regional tools that supports preparedness and response to public health threats.
https://carpha.org/THP/Background
About CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund Project
CARPHA is the Executing Agency for its Pandemic Fund Project, with the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB) as the Implementing Entity. The goal of this Project, which spans from 2024 to 2026, is to Reduce the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR). The objective is to support the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic PPR surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. This will reduce the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve regional and global health security. CARPHA is the beneficiary of the PF project and CARPHA Member States are the participants. Learn more via CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund webpage.
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Photo Caption: Receiving the ten (10) data-receiving tablets laptops were (L-R) Dr. Laura Frisen, Deputy Director Health Services, Dr. Julio Sabido, CEO, MOHW and Dr. Melissa Diaz, Director of Public Health and Wellness, MOHW (2nd from right). On hand to present the tablets were Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA Executive Director (centre) and Mr. Keston Daniel, Coordinator, CARPHA’s Regional Tourism and Health Program.
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Photo Caption: Dr. Lisa Indar (seated centre) is flanked by Ministry of Health Executives and staff following the Advanced Food Safety Training in Belize.
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Photo Caption: Ms. Samantha Llanos, CARPHA Epidemiologist during the rollout of the Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS) on the process pathways for cruise ship surveillance.