Belize

With the highest HIV prevalence in Central America, combined with over half of the population being under 25 years of age, Belize faces significant social and economic challenges. Although still fairly modest in size TB/HIV coinfection has increased in the last decade and it remains challenging to support all TB patients to achieve successful treatment.

UNDP assumed the role of PR for Global Fund HIV grants in Belize in 2011, and in 2016 became PR for the joint HIV/TB programme. The HIV grants have combatted key drivers of the disease including poverty, unemployment, chronic malnutrition, and drug abuse, by targeting young people and key populations at higher risk, such as men who have sex with men and female sex workers. The current programme focusses on increasing testing and counselling services among men, in priority districts and amongst priority age groups (19-24 and 40-49 years), improving retention on ART and reducing stigma and discrimination as barriers to prevention and treatment.