In a significant step to strengthen public health outcomes for new families in Belize, six professionals have completed a rigorous six-month lactation counselling certification program, bringing expanded, specialized breastfeeding support to communities across the nation. The newly minted counsellors were formally recognized at an official inauguration ceremony held on the morning of August 27, 2026, where senior health officials and international development partners highlighted the far-reaching public health benefits of the initiative.
Kevin Bernard, Belize’s Minister of Health and Wellness, praised the graduates for their commitment to completing the intensive training, noting that the new cohort directly advances the government’s 2024 national Breastfeeding Policy. The policy prioritizes expanding accessible, evidence-based support for breastfeeding mothers through targeted education, hands-on practical guidance, and whole-family engagement to boost breastfeeding success rates across the country.
“As the minister, I can confirm that our administration remains fully committed to supporting initiatives like this at every level, from local health directorates up to Cabinet,” Bernard stated during the ceremony. “This work delivers tangible improvements: it advances our public health goals for breastfeeding, supports healthier mothers, and sets the foundation for healthier children across Belize.”
Dr. Karen Bell, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) representative to Belize, reinforced the overwhelming scientific consensus on the benefits of breastfeeding for infant health. She emphasized that breast milk is uniquely suited to meet the nutritional needs of newborns, providing all essential nutrients in the correct balance to support healthy growth and early development. Beyond nutrition, Dr. Bell noted that breastfeeding also confers long-term protective benefits, reducing infants’ risk of both acute infectious illnesses in early life and chronic health conditions later in adulthood.
The six-month training program received partial funding from UNICEF Belize, which covered certification costs for four of the six new counsellors. Sajid Ali, UNICEF Belize’s representative, expressed the organization’s pride in the program’s successful completion and its commitment to future expansion. “We look forward to seeing these new counsellors act as champions for skilled breastfeeding support across the country, inspiring more professionals to enter this critical field,” Ali said. “Moving forward, we will continue working with local partners to scale up training opportunities and grow the national network of lactation support providers.”
Following their certification, the six new counsellors will be deployed to health regions throughout Belize, ensuring that breastfeeding mothers in both urban and rural communities can access the trained, personalized support they need to overcome common breastfeeding challenges. This expansion marks a key milestone in Belize’s multi-year effort to improve maternal and child health outcomes through targeted public health programming.