The Role of Belize's Primary Health Care System in Pandemic Preparedness and Response : A Qualitative Study

While the incidence of COVID-19 in Belize has subsided, the lasting health and economic impacts caused by the pandemic have demonstrated the need to build a resilient health system. The most recent figures from the Statistical institute of Belize confirm that there have been over 60,000 cases and 678 deaths due to COVID-19. Additionally, a rapid phone survey of over 2,000 households, conducted between December 2021 and January 2023, found that 20.6 percent and 26.8 percent of respondents reported losing their job permanently or temporarily, respectively, and an additional 64 percent of respondents reported a reduction in their income during pandemic. Ensuring the health system remains resilient to shocks is critical, especially given the pandemic's impacts on heath and the economy