The Country is Certified Malaria-Free by the World Health Organization. Malaria has plagued populations all over the world for almost five thousand years, claiming millions of lives. It was endemic on all continents in the 1950’s. Since then, it has been eradicated in Europe and Northern America. Now, Mesoamerica is also heading towards elimination. Belize has just achieved … [Read more...] about Belize Further Paves the Way to Malaria Elimination in Mesoamerica with IDB Support
Inter-American Development Bank
How can we protect the poorest and most vulnerable households against climate change?
Poor and vulnerable households are facing new and worsening climate risks that require urgent attention from social protection systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. A recent study conducted by the IDB introduces an innovative conceptual framework for analyzing the relationship between climate change and poverty and proposes a series of policy options to strengthen … [Read more...] about How can we protect the poorest and most vulnerable households against climate change?
Digital Therapeutics: Will you be downloading your next treatment for diabetes or depression?
Healthcare in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is overdue for an upgrade. Are there digital health investments that governments can make today to both curb the growth of non-communicable diseases and start them on the path of sustainable digital transformation? If you happen to be reading this blog on your smartphone, you might be aware that your app store is full of … [Read more...] about Digital Therapeutics: Will you be downloading your next treatment for diabetes or depression?
Self-directed Care: the Benefits of Cash and Counseling
Meet Elizabeth, an 80-year-old widow with multiple chronic health conditions for years. Previously, she relied solely on her daughter Angela for unpaid assistance with personal care and household tasks. Angela lives close by and cares for Elizabeth before or after going to her job at a local supermarket and on her days off. Unfortunately, Elizabeth’s needs for assistance became … [Read more...] about Self-directed Care: the Benefits of Cash and Counseling
Preventing Unnecessary Deaths: Tackling Low Quality of Care
“In LAC, 70% of excess deaths that could have been avoided by adequate healthcare are due to low quality of care while 30% are due to lack of access to care.” This striking statistic is often used to highlight the importance of quality for health outcomes, including in the IDB’s Health Sector Framework. But what is the basis for this estimate, and what does it mean? What … [Read more...] about Preventing Unnecessary Deaths: Tackling Low Quality of Care