Bolivia Ministry of Health launches multiple public health initiatives

The Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports is implementing several initiatives to strengthen national public health. The Ministry is advancing a regulatory proposal for Law No. 1280 to control tobacco products, including emerging items like electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches, while protecting smoke-free environments.

In the Beni department, the National Telehealth Program, supported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), has distributed medical kits to ten municipalities. These kits, containing tools such as digital glucometers and electrocardiograms, aim to provide specialized remote medical care to indigenous communities in remote areas.

Additionally, the Ministry released results from a bioconductual study on female sex workers conducted in 2025. The study, supported by the UNDP, found HIV prevalence rates of 3.57% in Santa Cruz and 1.29% in Cochabamba, noting high condom use rates of over 98% among participants.

Finally, a training workshop was held to promote the ‘Friends of Mother and Child’ initiative. Aligned with WHO and UNICEF standards, the program focuses on supporting breastfeeding through clinical practices and institutional support to maintain high breastfeeding rates across urban and rural sectors.