Belmopan, July 29, 2026.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW), in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, and the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA), is undertaking a seven-day training and pilot exercise in preparation for the national evaluation of Belize’s Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Frontline.
Data collectors are currently receiving hands-on training in evaluation methods, research ethics, interviewing techniques, administering skills assessments, quality assurance, and field procedures. The training workshop consists of three days of intensive data collection training followed by four days of field piloting and refinement of evaluation tools and procedures.
The training is supported by a multidisciplinary team of technical experts from CDC in Atlanta, CDC in Guatemala, CDC in El Salvador, SE-COMISCA, the CDC Foundation, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, who are providing guidance throughout the process. Their collective expertise helps to strengthen local capacity while ensuring the evaluation aligns with international best practices.
The FETP Frontline Evaluation aims to assess how field epidemiology training contributes to stronger workforce performance and improved public health surveillance and outbreak response capacity in Belize. Findings will provide valuable evidence to guide future workforce development investments and strengthen the country’s public health systems.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness extends its appreciation to all local, regional, and international partners supporting this important initiative and looks forward to using the evaluation findings to further enhance surveillance, outbreak response, and workforce capacity across Belize.
For further information, please contact Myra Fernandez, National Surveillance Officer and Country Coordinator FETP Belize, at fernandezmc@gobmail.gov.bz.
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