Health
The Turks and Caicos Islands wins the Henry C Smith Award for Immunisation
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 3 November 2023: The Henry C. Smith Immunisation Award is given to the country in the English-speaking Caribbean that shows improvement in vaccination coverage in the under-five-year age group. This is the second time that the Turks and Caicos Islands has won this award. While the TCI maintains very good vaccination coverage generally, in 2022, there was a marked improvement in the primary doses of childhood vaccines. The TCI achieved 94% in Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) dose 1, an increase from 88% in 2021, 99% in MMR 2, an increase from 82% in 2021 and 99% in Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Haemophilus Influenza Type B and Hepatitis B, an increase from 94% in 2021.
The award is presented annually at the expanded programme on Immunisation Managers’ meeting. This year the meeting was held in Belize City, Belize. Accepting the award on behalf of the TCI was Ms. Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care Manager with responsibility for the country’s EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunisation) programme.
Commenting on the achievement, Ms. Gardiner said, “Today was truly emotional. This is the second time the TCI has won this award. We have been working tirelessly to achieve these coverages. We always boast of our good coverages, but we always wanted to do better because we know that there are children that we are missing. Every missed child is an opportunity for the importation of a vaccine-preventable disease such as measles to arrive on our shores. I quote one of our advisors saying “Vaccine-preventable diseases don’t need visas and passports to
travel”.
This award is not final. We must continue working to maintain these high coverages and work even harder to make our disease surveillance system stronger to detect any suspected cases. I must thank the government of the TCI, past and present for always keeping the EPI programme at the forefront of their agenda; the protection of our most vulnerable is paramount. Secondly, I wish to thank the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation Representative for the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos for their unwavering support; no request to strengthen and improve our programme is denied. Great things happen when we have great support.
Thirdly, I wish to thank the hardworking Public Health Nurses, nursing, and support staff of the Primary Health Care Unit for their hard work and dedication to achieving our goals for 2022. You are the backbone of this programme and I salute you. Finally, I wish to thank the parents who believe in this public good. Thank you for prioritising your children’s health and wellness and understanding the importance of protecting them from the unknown”.
Commenting on the award, “the Minister of Health and Human Services – Hon. Shaun D. Malcolm expressed his elation over such a prestigious achievement. He expressed his profound gratitude and thanks to the Primary Health Manager Nurse Alrisa Gardiner and her team for the hard work they do on a daily basis, and also stated that this award is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the Immunisation Programme and Primary Healthcare in general in the Turks and Caicos Islands. He also thanked the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis, Deputy Permanent Secretaries Ms. Renessa Williams and Ms. Tamera Howell-Robinson, and the Chief Medical Officer –Dr. Nadia Astwood for their leadership and management within the Ministry on a daily basis”.
While vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, polio and diphtheria have not been seen in the TCI for many years, the threat of importation of these diseases is real. We note with COVID-19 how easily diseases can enter countries through travel and spread and how it can affect our population.
If you are uncertain about your child’s immunization status, please visit any of the government operated Primary Health Care Clinics and talk to your Public Health Nurse. For more information call 649-338-5469.
Let us continue to keep the TCI, VPD free!
Health
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital Celebrates Successful Completion of 2026 Summer READY Programme
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – August 18, 2026 – Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is pleased to announce the successful completion of its Summer READY Programme, a two-week internship initiative designed to provide high school students in Forms 3-5 with hands-on exposure to the healthcare environment and an opportunity to explore careers within the sector.
The programme, organised and hosted by the Training and Education Department, welcomed students into various clinical departments,
where they gained first-hand insight into the day-to-day operations of a healthcare facility and learned directly from healthcare professionals.
Throughout the two-week internship, students were exposed to different aspects of patient care and clinical operations while developing important workplace competencies, including communication, teamwork, professionalism, punctuality and responsibility. The experience was designed to complement classroom learning while helping students make more informed decisions about their future education and career pathways.
Vernessa Forbes, Training and Education Manager, said the Summer READY Programme reflects the hospital’s commitment to developing young people and creating meaningful opportunities for them to explore the healthcare profession.
“Summer READY is about giving our young people an opportunity to experience healthcare beyond what they may have seen or learned in the classroom. Over the two weeks, our students were able to interact with healthcare professionals, observe different clinical environments and gain a better understanding of the dedication and teamwork required to care for our patients. We were impressed by their enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn, and we hope this experience has inspired them to consider the many rewarding careers available in healthcare.”
By rotating through and gaining exposure to various clinical departments, students were also able to see that healthcare extends beyond the roles most commonly associated with a hospital. The programme introduced them to the range of skills, disciplines and professionals that work together to deliver safe, compassionate and high-quality patient care.
Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, Chief Executive Officer, said the hospital has an important role to play in building the human capacity needed to support the future development and sustainability of healthcare in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“As a hospital, our responsibility extends beyond providing healthcare services today; we also have an important role in helping to develop the people who will deliver and lead healthcare tomorrow. Human capacity building is essential to the long-term sustainability of our health system, and programmes such as Summer READY allow us to introduce young people to healthcare careers early, nurture their interests and help them understand the educational and professional pathways available to them.
By opening our clinical environment to students and providing mentorship and practical exposure, we are helping to build a pipeline of
future nurses, physicians, allied health professionals and other healthcare workers. We want our young people to see that there is a place for their talents within the health sector and, importantly, that they can build rewarding careers while contributing to the health and development of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We are proud to play our part in investing in the next generation and strengthening our country’s future healthcare workforce.”
The programme concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion to the students, recognizing their successful participation and commitment throughout the two-week internship.
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital congratulates all of the students who successfully completed the Summer Ready Programme and extends its appreciation to the clinical teams, supervisors and staff members who provided mentorship, guidance and practical learning opportunities throughout the programme.
Through the Summer READY Programme and its wider education, training, internship and professional development initiatives, Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital remains committed to supporting national human capacity development. By partnering with educational institutions, government agencies and other stakeholders, and by providing mentorship and practical learning opportunities within the healthcare environment, the Hospital aims to strengthen the pipeline of skilled healthcare professionals needed to meet the evolving health needs of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
