Belize Evaluates Frontline Health Workers’ Readiness for Disease Outbreaks

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is taking steps to assess how well Belize’s frontline health workers are prepared to respond to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. The Ministry, in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC Foundation, and regional health partners, has started training data collectors as part of the national evaluation of Belize’s Field Epidemiology Training Program, also known as FETP Frontline. The seven-day exercise includes training on data collection methods, interviewing techniques, research ethics, and assessing the skills of health workers. Following the training, the team will test and refine the evaluation tools through field exercises. The FETP Frontline program provides health workers with the skills needed to investigate health threats, monitor diseases, and support outbreak response efforts across the country. Officials say the evaluation will help determine the impact of the program and provide information that can guide future investments in Belize’s public health workforce. The Ministry of Health and Wellness says the findings will also help strengthen disease surveillance and improve the country’s ability to respond to public health challenges.