BELMOPAN, Belize – Belize has been selected as one of four countries to participate in a landmark regional effort aimed at bolstering national efforts to reduce the.
The “Towards a Smoke-Free and Emission-Free Latin America” Initiative is spearheaded by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
It is intended to reinforce global commitments to public health and sustainability, building on the 2020 South America smoke-free milestone.
The National Drug Abuse and Control Council (NDACC) this week held a series of activities to build capacity, foster collaboration, and garner support for the implementation of tobacco control policies across multiple sectors. The activities included an international regional workshop with delegates from Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua exploring new strategies to create smoke-free spaces, sharing best practices, and discussing the challenges and opportunities to develop and effectively implement smoke-free laws and policies.
Tobacco consumption remains one of the most significant public health challenges in Latin America, contributing to over eight million deaths annually. Of those, 1.3 million were linked to exposure to second-hand smoke, underscoring the urgent need for smoke-free environments to protect the public, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents.
Through the internal capacity-building session, the NDACC and the MoHW’s capacity was strengthened to lead tobacco control efforts. The intersectoral workshop attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including national health authorities, ministries, other key sectors such as economics, tourism, labor, customs, environment, civil society organizations (CSOs), academia, and the executive and legislative branches of government.
“This inclusive workshop was designed to demonstrate the multifaceted benefits of smoke-free environments, not only for health but also for economic development and environmental sustainability,” according to a joint statement issued by the PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health.
It said the international workshop brought together delegations from the four participating countries, where they exchanged experiences, discussed challenges, and identified opportunities for strengthening tobacco control laws, policies, and interventions in their countries.
Data shared during the session highlighted widespread social support for tobacco control measures and emphasized the role of judicial decisions in reinforcing policies aimed at reducing tobacco use.
The week-long series of activities concluded with the renewed commitment of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieving smoke-free and emission-free environments. Through the implementation of this collaborative initiative, Belize and its regional partners are taking a vital step toward a healthier, cleaner, and tobacco-free future, the statement said.
