As of 2024, Belize has an HIV prevalence rate of 1.6%. The rate is one of the highest of any Latin American country. Discrimination against people living with the disease hinders efforts to minimize the transmission of HIV/AIDS in Belize.

The History of HIV/AIDS in Belize

AIDS first showed up in Belize in 1986 and is one of the leading causes of death for Belizeans. The disease disproportionately affects gay and bisexual men in the country with people between 15-24 years of age being the largest portion of new infection. Only half of the estimated 3,700 people infected with HIV/AIDS in Belize are receiving treatment.

While new infections have declined 29% since 2010, Belizean deaths from AIDS have risen 14%. People of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to contract HIV/AIDS due to their behaviors around health. Factors correlated to poverty such as food scarcity, lack of economic opportunity and homelessness all increase the risk of HIV transmission.

Low socioeconomic status correlates to low access to HIV treatment. Delays to treatment only decrease the chance of patient survival. In Belize, where 19.1% of the population is multidimensionally poor, organizations see the need to address the issue.

The National AIDS Commission of Belize

The National AIDS Commission of Belize’s goals include keeping Belizeans up-to-date on new information about the disease. The organization, established in 2000, drives a national response to HIV/AIDS in Belize.

The organization also educates citizens on how to prevent infection for themselves and others. It mentions factors like drug and alcohol use, vertical transmission and blood contact. The organization’s leaders are high ranking officials in the country. It also has local and regional partners that assist with education and response.

To overcome barriers associated with a response to HIV/AIDS in Belize, the United Nations in the Caribbean prioritizes the following:

1. Expansion Prevention: Increasing access to testing and treatment is needed to prevent the disease before and after exposure.
2. Stigma Management: Training healthcare workers to be sensitive to biases creates comfortable environments for patients.
3. Strong Health Systems: Collecting data to track progress allows improvements to current systems.
4. Community Empowerment: Putting more resources in community efforts to be inclusive and provide resources helps citizens with HIV. 

Another priority of the response to HIV/AIDS in Belize is eliminating transmission from mother to child. Belize has created a system where mothers are tested for HIV and syphilis two to three times during pregnancy and before birth. If a mother tests positive, treatment is immediately given to prevent transmission. In addition, women can receive care for 18 months after birth.

In 2023, Belize repealed its law that criminalized exposure to HIV and not disclosing it. The law previously punished an individual that “deliberately or recklessly transmits or spreads HIV/AIDS.” The law did not actually require transmission for penalization. 

Looking Ahead

There is some hope in Belize. In 2025, Belizeans took 49,615 HIV/AIDS tests. As a national standard, treatment is available as well as preventive measures like PrEP, PEP and HIVST.

Since 2023, the proportion of diagnosed, treated and suppressed AIDS cases have all risen. While still below the optimal rates, the numbers show that some progress is being made. In Belize, the limited resources make it difficult to overcome the HIV/AIDS epidemic entirely.

– Hayden Randolph

Hayden is based in Columbus, OH, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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