On July 24, 2026, Belice formally kicked off a nationwide public health initiative named “Belize Moves”, framed not as a temporary government program but as a sustained national movement designed to shift population-wide habits toward healthier lifestyles. The launch ceremony was held at Sir George Brown Park in the capital city of Belmopan, building on the success of the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW)’s earlier “Love Your Heart” pilot project.
The movement is structured around three core foundational pillars: increasing daily physical activity, improving national dietary habits, and expanding routine health monitoring to help people track key health metrics (colloquially referred to as “know your numbers”). Minister of Health and Wellness Kevin Bernard emphasized in his opening address that the initiative is a collective call to action, urging all segments of Belizean society to take intentional steps toward healthier decision-making, with the shared goal of building a stronger, more resilient nation.
A core driving force behind the movement is the alarming public health data that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – including cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, various forms of cancer, and hypertension – are responsible for approximately 65% of all deaths across the country. Bernard stressed that these are not just abstract statistics; every number represents a beloved member of a community, a family member or friend whose life has been upended by an entirely preventable illness.
To embed healthy habits into daily life, “Belize Moves” will expand its outreach beyond public health clinics into schools, workplaces, and neighborhood communities. Programming will include interactive community health fairs, organized group fitness activities, and ongoing wellness workshops tailored to different population groups. The national movement has secured formal support and partnership from multiple regional and international stakeholders, including the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), and all local municipal governments across Belize. Anmin C.Y. Chi, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, noted that the partnership aligns with ongoing work to strengthen Belize’s system for preventing and controlling metabolic chronic diseases.