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TCI: Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services celebrates Vaccination Week in the Americas

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#TurksandCaicos, April 26, 2018 – Providenciales – This April marks the 16th anniversary of Vaccination Week in the Americas and the 6th World Immunization Week.  This year the theme is inspired by the 2018 FIFA World Cup soccer games in Russia; the slogan is “Strengthen your defense! #GetVax #VaccinesWork.”  Vaccination week in the Americas is celebrated April 23rd to 27th 2018.

 Since its inception, more than 720 million people of all ages have been vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases.  The vaccination week initiative has been used to integrate other promotional and preventive health procedures into vaccination activities as well as highlight the importance of maintaining the achievements obtained in the region through vaccination.  The goals of vaccination week are to:

  1. Improve access to vaccination for people of all ages through outreach to the underserved communities.
  2. Increase vaccination coverages of all vaccines.
  3. Raise awareness about vaccine preventable diseases and the importance of being immunized.
  4. Promote vaccination in the whole family.
  5. Boost other public health activities.

The Region of the Americas has been the global leader in the elimination of vaccine preventable diseases for many years.  We were the first to eradicate small pox and the first to eliminate polio, measles, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome and neonatal tetanus.  It is important for the region to sustain the elimination efforts particularly because of our risk of importation of these diseases from other areas such as Europe, Asia and Africa through travel.  The TCI has been doing well in achieving and maintaining high coverages in the protection of its population from vaccine preventable diseases (VPD).

The expanded programme on immunization is in its 41st year and since its inception has seen much growth and achieved many milestones.  We have seen the addition of both new and improved vaccines to the programme locally and regionally.  This year the Turks and Caicos will see the addition of a new vaccine that is proven to prevent cervical cancer among women and the planned introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine which prevents pneumococcal disease by 2020.  In 2017, we began works on an electronic immunization registry which will offer easier access to immunization services; this year we will fully implement the registry into the programme.

 

The activities for vaccination week are as follows:

  1. Outreach in daycare centers
  2. Outreach in schools
  3. Outreach in communities.

Vaccines are offered free of cost at all TCIG operated clinics to persons of all ages.  Strengthen your defense get vaccinated today. #GetVax #VaccineWorks.

For more information on vaccines contact your health care provider or any of the public health nurses on the following numbers:

 

Grand Turk 338-5462

South Caicos 946-3216 or 946-3800

North Caicos 946-7194

Providenciales 338-5474 or 946-5613

 

Let us keep the TCI VPD free!

 

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RTCIPF Observes World Down Syndrome Day

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On March 21st, 2024, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force joined the international, regional and local communities in observing World Down Syndrome Day. 

Officers showed their support by wearing brightly coloured and mismatched socks to raise awareness. 

The head of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Police Grantley Williams, Training Manager Mrs Odessa Forbes and Media Relations Officer Denyse Renne visited the SNAP Centre and interacted with the students.

In a message to the TCI community, the RTCIPF noted that stereotypes perpetuate stigma and hinder inclusion, preventing individuals from reaching their full potential. 

Instead, the RTCIPF calls for individuals to foster an environment of acceptance and support where everyone is valued for who they are. 

By breaking down barriers and challenging misconceptions, we can create a more inclusive society where individuals with Down Syndrome are empowered to live fulfilling lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities and, by extension, the TCI. 

As law enforcement officers, we must protect and serve all members of society, regardless of their abilities. 

Let’s work together to ensure that individuals with Down Syndrome are treated with dignity and respect and that their rights are upheld.

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CARICOM speaks out on Climate Change, looking to May meeting to amplify call for Climate Funding

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March 3, 2024

 

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains on the frontlines of global climate crisis, an issue the Region has been aggressively advocating on for the past thirty years. Despite the many commitments and promises of international partners, the window of opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing.

Heads of Government are concerned that while COP 28 was widely regarded as a historic event, with the completion of the first global stocktake (GST), on progress in achievement of the Paris Agreement goals, the outcomes of GST show that emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise and the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of Parties will not keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

Heads of Government also expressed concern to be heading to COP 29 where a New Finance Goal will be articulated to replace the 100bn goal, which has not yet been met, even as developing countries require trillions to deal with the escalating impacts of climate change. Developed country parties have not provided enough finance at scale, technology and capacity building support required to help developing countries tackle their pressing needs to build their resilience, especially in adapting to the adverse and increasingly catastrophic impacts of climate change. The clear absence of definitive timelines for action and quantitative commitments for scaling up of investments, and particularly adaptation finance emerging out of COP 28, cause great concern to our Region.

The Conference noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), recognized as the most vulnerable group of countries and a special case for sustainable development, have been facing strong push back against the recognition of their special circumstances especially in the context of climate finance. There is limited international support for special allocations for SIDS within financing arrangements and available climate finance from international and private sources is limited, expensive and too onerous to access.

In light of the preceding, Heads of Government called for CARICOM to take a strategic, unified and coordinated approach to ensure that the Region remains influential in the climate and development arena through engagements with key partners and advocacy groups.

They called for renewed focus by the Region to advocate for inclusion of forests, nature-based solutions and blue carbon into market mechanisms with the aim of articulating clear regional positions and strategies.

Heads of Government reiterated the call for improved readiness programmes, simplified approval procedures, a change to the criteria for determining access to low-cost finance, and for the adoption of programmatic approaches to address the bottlenecks in accessing finance.

The Region reiterates its support for the Bridgetown Initiative’s call to expand capital adequacy of international financial institutions.

Heads recognized that the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled to be held in Antigua and Barbuda, 27 – 30 May 2024, will be an inflection point for many of these discussions to be articulated. As such, the Region remains committed to participating in the Conference at the highest level.

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South Caicos Development Plans shared with Washington-Misick led Administration

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On Monday, 12 February 2024, the Premier led a delegation to tour the island of South Caicos to view the ongoing public and private sector projects, involving the remodelling and rebranding of the airport terminals, historical districts, and the East Bay Hotel.

The tour of the various developments reinforced the Government’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to boost the island’s activity and economy.

Photos courtesy of the TCI Office of the Premier

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