YHP Belize

The Young Health Programme (YHP) and UNICEF partner to support a global movement of young people advocating for healthier lives and the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Since 2019, the partnership has worked to ensure that adolescent health is prioritised within national systems and policies.

The collaboration is built around three pillars:

• Awareness: Increasing understanding of NCD risks and protective behaviours.
• Empowerment: Equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to shape their health and wellbeing.
• Action: Supporting youth engagement in policy processes and strengthening systems that enable healthier environments.

In Belize, the Programme combines youth leadership, digital engagement and policy advocacy to strengthen adolescent health and support the prevention of NCDs.

2020 - 2027

Nationwide

To improve adolescent health and wellbeing in Belize by:

• increasing young people’s understanding of preventable NCD risk factors,
• equipping adolescents with skills and opportunities to influence health-related issues affecting their communities,
• strengthening access to adolescent-responsive health information and support,
• supporting systems and policies that encourage healthier lifestyles and environments,
• promoting meaningful youth participation in decision-making processes.

Through the Young Health Programme, UNICEF Belize works with young people, schools, communities and government partners to strengthen adolescent health promotion, expand youth participation and support healthier environments for young people.

The Programme focuses on supporting adolescents to adopt healthier behaviours and become active participants in shaping healthier schools, communities and policies.

This includes:

• increasing awareness of behaviours linked to future NCD risk,
• supporting youth leadership and peer advocacy,
• strengthening adolescent-responsive systems and services,
• promoting healthier school and community environments,
• supporting policy dialogue linked to adolescent health and wellbeing.

Implemented by UNICEF Belize as part of the wider YHP–UNICEF partnership, the Programme brings together digital engagement, school and community outreach, youth advocacy and cross-sector collaboration to support adolescent health and NCD prevention.

Activities span awareness campaigns, youth leadership initiatives, training for professionals and policy engagement, helping embed adolescent health priorities across education, healthcare and community settings.

1. Awareness

YHP Belize advanced NCD prevention by embedding healthy behaviours across schools, communities, healthcare services and digital platforms.

In 2025:

• Working with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, health fairs and school campaigns across all six districts reached more than 16,000 adolescents with messages on NCD prevention.
• Tailored healthy lifestyle sessions reached more than 1,000 adolescents in special needs schools and institutional care settings.
• Messaging on healthy weight gain, nutrition and substance use avoidance was integrated into healthcare visits, reaching at least 550 pregnant adolescents.
• Digital campaigns delivered NCD prevention and wellbeing messages to 25,000 young people across multiple channels.
• Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize and UNICEF Champion, helped amplify healthy lifestyle messaging and engaged a further 5,000 adolescents through outreach and social media activity.

2. Empowerment

Youth leadership has been strengthened through structured pathways linking awareness, advocacy, skills-building and peer action.

In 2025:

• A mentorship programme delivered through faith-based groups engaged 465 adolescents on healthy lifestyles, wellbeing, violence prevention and cervical cancer awareness.
• In partnership with national authorities, 200 adolescents participated in a Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Forum exploring links between climate change, respiratory health, injury prevention and wellbeing.
• 25 adolescents were trained as Nutrition Youth Advocates, helping promote healthier school environments and encouraging peers to adopt healthier daily behaviours.
• A further 10 youth leaders participated in training on climate adaptation policy and contributed youth perspectives to national climate and health discussions.

3. Action

UNICEF accelerated system changes designed to protect adolescents from NCD risks and strengthen access to adolescent-responsive support and services.

In 2025:

• 100 frontline professionals across multiple sectors were trained to recognise adolescent health needs and identify lifestyle-related risks, substance use and emotional distress amongst young people.
• In partnership with the National Teachers Learning Institute, more than 200 teachers completed the ‘Helping Adolescents Thrive’ training package, supporting healthier daily routines, wellbeing and substance use prevention in schools.
• Youth Parliamentarians contributed to policy dialogue by drafting a bill — currently being debated in Parliament — to enable adolescents aged 14+ to independently access health services. The proposed legislation aims to reduce barriers to timely screening, counselling, vaccination and referral.

Over Phase One of the partnership, Belize also contributed to wider policy progress, including revisions to the Adolescent Health Strategy and Youth Development Policy, alongside implementation of the School Food and Nutrition Policy to support healthier school environments.

Key Programme achievements in 2025 included:

• 17,550 adolescents and young people reached directly with NCD prevention messages.
• 500 adolescents engaged through mentorship programmes and youth forums.
• More than 200 teachers trained to support adolescent wellbeing and healthier lifestyles in schools.
• A proposed bill to improve adolescents’ independent access to preventive health services advanced to Parliamentary debate.
• Youth advocates contributed to Belize’s National Multisectoral Adaptation Plan, including its health adaptation component.

Over the course of Phase One, the adolescent health programme in Belize evolved from small-scale youth training initiatives into a more integrated national effort linking awareness, youth empowerment and policy action.

The Programme has strengthened youth participation in adolescent health advocacy and increased young people’s engagement in NCD prevention initiatives across Belize. Youth-led advocacy and policy engagement have contributed to stronger adolescent-responsive approaches within schools, health systems and national policy discussions.

The Programme has also helped strengthen healthier school environments, improve access to adolescent health information and services, and build a growing network of young leaders advocating for healthier and more climate-resilient communities.

By combining youth leadership, digital engagement and systems strengthening, the Programme is helping create healthier environments for adolescents and supporting the long-term prevention of non-communicable diseases in Belize.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.

References

1. World Health Organization (WHO) (2018). Belize steps up to prioritize the health challenges faced by its youth. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/belize-steps-up-to-prioritize-the-health-challenges-faced-by-its-youth
2. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) (2025). Health and Climate Change: Country Profile 2025 – Belize. Available at: https://www.paho.org/en/documents/health-and-climate-change-country-profile-2025-belize
3. UNICEF Belize (2019). Belize Adolescent Health Digest. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/belize/belize-adolescent-health-digest