In a landmark gathering at Saint Catherine Academy’s auditorium on February 27, 2026, Belize launched an ambitious national initiative to eliminate cervical cancer entirely. The collaborative forum, uniting the Belize Cancer Society, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the Belize Ministry of Health, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s public health agenda.
Under the leadership of Kim Simplis Barrow, President of the Belize Cancer Society, the event brought together clinicians, healthcare partners, and community advocates to champion a unified message: cervical cancer is both preventable and beatable. The society’s threefold mandate—to advocate, educate, and inspire—formed the foundation of the initiative, emphasizing that no more lives need be lost to the disease.
Dr. Karen Lewis-Bell, PAHO/WHO Representative, highlighted that cervical cancer elimination stands as a priority within the organization’s disease elimination agenda. This strategic alignment provides Belize with technical expertise and international support to implement comprehensive prevention and early detection programs.
Health experts presented compelling evidence that Belize possesses all necessary tools to achieve elimination, positioning the country to potentially lead the region in this critical public health achievement. The consensus among stakeholders emphasized that immediate action could transform outcomes for generations of women, making cervical cancer elimination an attainable reality rather than a distant aspiration.