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Revival, Rejuvenation, Reflection – the Kimcha Village Bird Sanctuary, a natural experience in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos

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By Shanieka Smith

Features Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2022 – The Wetlands of Wheeland in Providenciales used to have a more dubious reputation; known for what was not beautiful, healthy or attractive. It was once an illegal site for coal kilns, and a criminal hide-out. But that all changed about nine and a half years ago. Two nature loving individuals explored the area and found a dying natural flora; they resolved to revive it and now the Wheeland Wetlands is an eco-friendly, hiking, educational, adventure trail, boasting natural beauties and rejuvenating power.

At least that is what Charmaine Elliot tells us. The stunning 53-year-old woman, who is a picture of rejuvenation herself, hails from the Fishing Capital, the islands of South Caicos. Her partner, Kimmit Harvey, 47, is from Providenciales and together they have put in the kind of sweat equity, which has brought new life to the area.

It is fair to say that the Wetlands of Wheeland have been massively transformed and today, it is called Kimcha Village Bird Sanctuary.

The lush site, hugging the northwestern shoreline of Providenciales has been cleaned up about 65 per cent. Birds like ducks and flamingos have returned in large quantities, and now it’s like a little island on an island and a home for senior citizens.

“You arrive as visitors, you leave as family,” said Elliot, in speaking to us about her earth-friendly retreat. She said Kimcha’s long-term goal is to cultivate an official bird sanctuary for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She added, “…there will be bird walks for you to walk and bird watch.” While explaining this vision, she made mention of Central Park in New York, where there is a bird-watching area. Her dream is similar to that.

“In the Wetlands of Wheeland, there are so many birds, and we have to preserve that. The fact is, this is the only area right now within Providenciales that is actually a virgin wetland; untouched and unspoiled by the booming development in other pockets of the island and the country,” she added.

Elliot says now all the birds are coming in and the goal is to preserve this habitat. Besides the birds, Kimcha Village is also a haven for seniors.

Elliot reflects fondly on her mother, Roslin Louise Higgs-King, who died in 2018.

Her mother inspired the idea to do something for the seniors. As such, Kimcha Village has a Recreational Center, the Roslin’s Seniors Recreational Center, and it provides a wonderful escape.

“Life is not about settling, it’s about living,” she said, quoting the village’s motto as she highlighted that seniors are not old people who are done and to be discarded. She said the Roslin’s Seniors Recreation Center is proof that seniors who can take care of themselves and want to enjoy every moment of the life they still have left.

Charmaine smiled as she explained, “once you want to get active, and you want to walk and you want to get into eco-friendly and all those things, you come to Kimcha Village through the senior’s Center and you will be able to do knitting, and sewing, and plant trees and all these different things to keep you going.”

Elliot’s mother is certainly at peace given the effort being put into this noble and thoughtful retreat.

Elliot advises that on every fourth Saturday since April 2021, they host a seniors’ day. April 2022 will mark one year since starting this adventure for older residents. Motivation is found on the faces of the Seniors and their anticipation every time they visit Kimcha Village on their special day out.

“What we do is do a free day for them, they come down, we cook healthy food. We do everything off the grill, we smoke all our meats for hours with cedar wood and we take all the preservatives out of it, we cook with only Cayenne pepper, sea salt, limes, coconut oil, olive oil, all our vegetables are fresh, all our peas are fresh.”

At Kimcha Village, it is all-natural, fresh, and healthy.

These are principals Charmaine have added to her own life and has seen unwanted pounds melt away due her peaceful environment and lifestyle change in diet.

In addition to the monthly seniors day held at Kimcha Village, Elliot shared that they will now be having a fun day for toddlers every third Sunday of each month. There is no doubt this initiative will take off and be a positive, fun, healthy, and educational space for our children.

Despite all of these clear-cut objectives, there are still misconceptions about the wetlands and the Village.

Elliot highlighted that people think Kimcha Village is a restaurant and bar but said she wants people to know that is not the case. She said they are far from a restaurant and bar. The food prepared is for her nature explorers, who she said, “arrive as visitors, but leave as family.”

When asked who or what Elliot and her partner is trying to help, Elliot said the environment, the birds, and people.

Simple.

“We want to help the environment because it’s necessary to protect the environment. Climate change and all the destruction that has happened in that area; we are trying to preserve the area and try to reconstruct that and resort our wetlands to a coastal wonderland where anyone visiting can feel safe,” she expressed.

As it relates to the birds, she said, “we want to bring them back (too) because, with the birds, it’s just more beautiful. It’s the most beautiful thing you want to see or hear in the morning when you wake up… the sound of the birds and the sound of the ocean and the waves and the wind.”

For people, and more specifically, the seniors, are one of the most important aspects of this project, not only because of Elliot’s mother’s dream when she was alive, but Elliot is passionate about changing the fact that there is nowhere for seniors to go. It’s as if because they are older, they are forgotten. Kimcha Village remedies that, she believes.

“This area and this project will give them a place to actually go and socialize and be safe and be healthy. And we want to be able to use this as an educational program for the schools, the island forest, for the Turks and Caicos to learn,” she said.

This passion was not birthed in the traditional classroom setting or college lecture hall. Now, like Kimcha Village Bird Sanctuary, this zeal is all natural.

Elliot reveals, when quizzed about whether formal training inspired her drive, that neither she nor Kimmit had gone through a formal system or training. The passion and education were passed down, it is a legacy of love for the natural heritage and incomparable beauties of every part of the Turks and Caicos Islands… and sharing that with everyone; young or old.

Kimcha Village Bird Sanctuary is located at 618 Quarry Road, Wheeland Wetlands, Wheeland, Providenciales.

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Health

Ministry of Health and Human Services Advisory on the Influenza Season

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PUBLIC ADVISORY

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

 

Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Health and Human Services wishes to remind the public to be vigilant during this influenza season. Seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as September, however, most of the flu activity often peaks between December and February.  This is also the most favourable season for other respiratory infectious diseases including COVID19.

Worldwide, respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID19 result in an estimated 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths, particularly among high-risk groups including the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, health workers and those with serious medical conditions. Influenza (flu) and COVID19 are caused by contagious viruses resulting in respiratory illnesses with the following signs and symptoms:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Headache
  • Loss of taste
  • Loss of smell

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is committed to keeping the Turks and Caicos Islands population healthy, and persons are advised to visit the Primary Health Care clinics within their respective communities to receive the influenza and the COVID19 vaccine which are offered free of charge.

The COVID19 vaccine is bivalent which offers protection from the original strain of the SARS-CoV2 and the Omicron variant. It also triggers a response to newer subvariants of the omicron variant.  The bivalent vaccine is available for those over the age of 18 years as a booster. Those aged 16 and 17 years can receive the Pfizer vaccine as the booster.  Boosters are needed to boost immunity if persons have received the vaccine more than 3 months previously as immunity is known to wane with time.

In addition to having the vaccines, the Ministry of Health and Human Services would like to recommend the following health tips which can help to prevent the spread of the infection:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
  • If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or long enough to sing the birthday song twice.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth).
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too, particularly those who are in the vulnerable group.
  • If you or your child is sick with the flu or flu-like symptoms, stay home from work, school and daycare.  You will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is ill.
  • Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, manage your stress and be physically active.
  • Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that can cause many different illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Get your Flu shot today!!!

For more information, contact your health care provider or the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit on 338-2772 or 338-4942.  For information on the vaccine contact the Primary Health Care Department on 338-5469. Please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

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Caribbean News

5.4 Million in Haiti are going hungry as Gangs recruit children, UN calls for Immediate Action

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

 

 

Haiti, December 9, 2024 – The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is warning that as Haiti grapples with escalating violence and systemic collapse, its children are bearing the brunt of a multipronged crisis that threatens their lives, safety, and future.

UN officials and humanitarian leaders used the ECOSOC meeting last Monday December 2 to highlight the direct conditions in Haiti, where violence has severely disrupted life in the  Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.

They have called for immediate action to support its youngest citizens.

The UN said 5.4 million people, half the population are facing acute food insecurity and 700,000 displaced, urgent international intervention is needed to address a crisis compounded by armed groups violence, economic instability, and insufficient humanitarian funding.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, who took up his post two weeks ago, spoke of the devastating impact of the crisis on children. “The children of Haiti are displaced. They are malnourished. They live in fear, their neighbourhoods controlled by armed groups.”

The Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell said “we estimate that children account for 30 to 54 per cent of armed group members while the total number of children recruited by armed groups has jumped by 70 per cent over the past year.”

She also highlighted the collapse of essential services, with 1.5 million youngsters losing access to education and healthcare facilities shutting down due to violence and insecurity.

Despite the challenges, UN agencies and partners continue to deliver aid.  Facing a surge in displacement and food insecurity, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has announced an expanded response, targeting nearly two million people with emergency relief.

“We have been delivering record amounts of food assistance to Haitians in Port-au-Prince and across the country these past few months and will do even more in the coming weeks,” said the WFP’s Country Director, Wanja Kaaria.

The WFP also supports local economies by sourcing 70 per cent of school meal ingredients from Haitian farmers, fostering long-term resilience and development.

Yet, the scale of the response is dwarfed by the growing needs as speakers at the ECOSOC session stressed the need for immediate international action to close funding gaps, protect children from exploitation, and rebuild essential services.

UN Special Representative Maria Isabel Salvador, who also heads the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), urged the global community to address root causes of the crisis.

“The challenges Haiti faces are immense, but one truth is undeniable: no progress can be made without addressing the pervasive insecurity caused by armed gangs.  UNICEF and other humanitarian leaders called on the UN Security Council -backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission and Haitian authorities to prioritise child protection during operations, ensuring safe reintegration for children recruited by armed groups.

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Bahamas News

CARPHA Supports Mass Gathering Surveillance for Bahamas’ National Festivals

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Nassau, Bahamas:  The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with The Bahamas Ministry of Health and Wellness, conducted a mass gathering (MG) risk assessment and implemented the MG event-based surveillance for the country’s upcoming annual Junkanoo Festival[1], and other upcoming mass gathering events.

Mass gatherings can pose increased public health risks and challenges for the host community.  In light of this, CARPHA conducted a training workshop to strengthen The Bahamas’ capacity to identify and respond to potential threats, in “real time”, during the festival.  The MG surveillance training was carried out using the novel, electronic, real time, MG surveillance module, developed by CARPHA and successfully utilised in Caribbean nations, during the recently concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup.

During the launch of the workshop, The Honourable Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to implementing proactive surveillance to reduce the risk of disease spread within the population, as well as the significant number of visitors on the islands. Minister Darville acknowledged the “complexities of 12 million visitors coming into a population of 450 thousand” annually and the need to ensure robust and resilient public health systems for the continued economic growth of the country. The Minister also endorsed CARPHA as a key public health partner, saying that the Agency is “a world recognised institution with high-level professionals and leads in many public health programmes especially in tourism”.

Dr Lisa Indar, Ad Interim Executive Director, in her remarks explained the need for elevated surveillance and indicated, “Mass gathering events such as junkanoo, carnival and cricket in the Caribbean are unique and key cultural and economic pillars for all CARPHA Member States (CMS) that draw large numbers of visitors from around the world”.  She added, “visitors no longer just want to be happy, they want to be happy and healthy”.

Dr Indar also spoke about the relevance and benefits of mass gathering surveillance to the overall public health landscape and underpinned the need to ramp-up and utilise the available electronic surveillance tools that will facilitate rapid identification and response to public health threats emerging from mass gathering events.

The CARPHA team presented  Minister Darville with three tablets to facilitate real-time field data entry during the Junkanoo Festival and other mass gathering events throughout the year.  The capacity built from the Junkanoo risk assessment and MG training will be used by The Bahamas’ national planning and coordination team to guide them in developing and implementing relevant risk mitigation strategies and interventions to reduce the festival’s current risks.

This mission was supported through CARPHA’s Pandemic Fund project, which has the core objective of supporting the reduction of public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean of which mass gatherings pose an ever-present risk.

The launch of the training workshop took place on Thursday 21st November 2024 in The Bahamas.  Attendees included The Honourable Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Phillip Swann, Acting Director of the Department of Public Health, Mrs. Coral Miller, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Wellness, Ms. Brenda Colebrooke, Senior Under Secretary Ministry of Health and Wellness and Dr Felicia Greenslade, Officer-in-Charge of the Surveillance Unit. The CARPHA team comprised Dr Lisa Indar, Ad Interim Executive Director, Mr. Keston Daniel, Coordinator, Visitor-based Surveillance and Mr. Mohamed Elsherbiny, Senior Technical Advisor.

About the Pandemic Fund Project:

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the sole public health agency for the Caribbean region, is the Executing Agency for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Project: RG-T4387, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. The goal of this Project, which spans from 2024 to 2026, is to reduce the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean through prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR).  The objective is to support the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic PPR surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. This will reduce the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve regional and global health security. CARPHA is the beneficiary of the PF project and CARPHA Member States are the participants.

The PF was approved at the highest level by the Council for Human and Social Development, as well as by CARPHA’s Executive Board and other stakeholders, including Chief Medical Officers. This is a regional 3-year project (2024-2026). The public signing of Technical Cooperation Agreement to implement the project was on December 14, 2023.

 About the CARPHA Electronic Mass Gathering (MG) Surveillance Module:

The MG surveillance module is a product of the CARPHA’s Tourism and Health Program (THP), one of the Agency’s innovative programmes that addresses health, food safety and environmental sanitation (HSE) threats impacting sustainable tourism in the Caribbean through real-time, early warning and response surveillance systems, guidelines, capacity building, HSE standards, policy, advocacy and partnerships.

In 2024, this portfolio was expanded to included mass gathering surveillance given the elevated public health risk these events pose to regional health security. The THP aims to strengthen countries’ capacity to prepare for and respond to public health threats, thereby improving citizen and visitor health, tourism resilience, economic sustainability and the event itself.

With the success of MG surveillance during the ICC T20 World Cup and the endorsement of this electronic system by Ministers of Health in the Region, through the Council of Human and Social Development-Health, The Bahamas recognised the system’s high value and solicited the support of CARPHA to implement and build capacity in MG surveillance for its annual Junkanoo Festival.

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