Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2025. 10:17 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, has launched a five-year, CAD $8 million initiative to reduce adolescent pregnancy rates in Belize and Suriname, with a focus on Indigenous and Tribal girls in underserved communities.
Although global adolescent birth rates are declining, Latin America and the Caribbean remain an exception, with Belize and Suriname recording 56.4 and 54.3 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19 — among the highest in the region.
The new Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Project seeks to address these disparities through improved access to sexual and reproductive health services, supportive policy frameworks, and comprehensive sexuality education.
“Adolescent pregnancy is not inevitable—it is preventable,” said Shehryar Sarwar, Head of Cooperation for Belize and Jamaica at the Canadian High Commission. UNFPA Liaison Officer Tisa Grant added that the project “aligns with UNFPA’s core mandate of leaving no one behind” and its goal of ending maternal mortality, unmet family planning needs, and gender-based violence.
The APP Project will be implemented in partnership with governments, civil society, and community organizations, particularly in Toledo, Stann Creek, and Cayo Districts.
It aims to empower adolescent girls with knowledge, health services, and opportunities to break cycles of poverty and gender inequality — ensuring every girl can live a healthy and empowered life.
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The post United Nations Population Fund and Canada launch 5-year project to curb Adolescent pregnancy in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2025. 10:17 am CST. By Zoila Palma: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, with funding from Global Affairs
The post United Nations Population Fund and Canada launch 5-year project to curb Adolescent pregnancy in Belize appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.