TCI: Vector Control Workshop held in Providenciales

#Providenciales, August 20, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Environmental Health Department (EHD) is an arm of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment which may affect human health. One of the functions of the EHD is pest management/vector control.  The EHD in collaboration with Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) commenced a vector control workshop on August 13-17, 2018 facilitated by Ms. Camille White of CARPHA at Ports of Call Conference Room, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

The objectives of the workshop were:

• To assess the existing or potential entomology laboratory facilities in each CARPHA Member State
• To train vector control personnel in the entomological laboratory techniques associated with the collection and data management of Aedes  Aegypti mosquito indices
• To develop and implement feedback mechanisms for entomological indices and vector control field operations

Present at the workshop were:

• EHD Vector Control and Environmental Health Officers
• Private Pest Control Operators
• National Epidemiology and Research Unit Health Surveillance Officer
• Primary Health Care staff
• Agriculture Department staff
• Representatives from TCI Hospital
• Health Disaster and Training Unit

The Director of Environmental Health stated “this workshop is a timely one and it’s important for all stakeholders including the public to understand the importance of their roles in pest management/vector control in the Turks and Caicos Islands”.  EHD would also like to thank the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports & Human Services for its continuous support of the EHD in ensuring this workshop occurred.  The Department is also grateful to Ms. Camille White and CARPHA for facilitating the workshop.

The Director continued by stating that “I am very proud of my EHD staff, especially my Vector Control team throughout the TCI which has worked around the clock and sometimes seven days a week conducting swamp monitoring, premises inspections and educating the general public on vector control preventive measures.  Thanks also to the EHD team who worked behind the scenes in ensuring that this workshop was successful”.

EHD is committed to safe-guarding the public against vectors that can cause diseases such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika in the TCI.  This workshop, along with a number of other coordinated activities in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization and Public Health England, is aimed at strengthening the TCI’s Vector Control Unit.

Through the departments vector control program, public education and clean up campaigns, the TCI has seen a reduction in the number of confirmed cases of dengue and the last confirmed case of Zika in the TCI was documented in January 2017.

Let’s work together to keep TCI Vector-Borne Disease free.

Released: TCIG