Environmental Health Department Officers Attended National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) 87th Annual Educational Conference & Exhibition (AEC)

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 24 July 2024: A team of Environmental Health Officers attended the National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) 87^th Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition (AEC) that took place on 15^th July– 18^th July 2024 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, USA. The cadre comprised of two (2) Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) Ms. Shanieka Cranston and Ms. Khris-Ann Lawson as well as two (2) Port Health Officers (PHOs) – Mr. Christopher Swann and Mr. Sherangelo Rigby.

The theme for the conference was New Horizons: Building Bridges to Shape the Environmental Health Future.  The AEC was focused on responding to the needs of the environmental health professions by providing scholastic sessions on the following topics:

• Heatwaves
• Data modernisation
• Burn-out
• Artificial intelligence for environmental health
• Food safety
• Water quality
• Air quality
• Vector control

Having attended this conference, officers are better equipped with knowledge in the above-mentioned areas of environmental health and were able to explore the profound impact of authentic connections on professional engagement, productivity and, overall well-being. 

Over the duration of the conference, the officers attended specialised sessions, keynote addresses, panel discussions and viewed exhibitions.  The areas highlighted were: Environmental Self: The Power of Connection, The Future: National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Retail Food Safety at FDA: Future Directions and Priorities, Lessons in Leadership and, Bringing Environmental Health to the Public Health Main Stage with Waste Water Surveillance by conducting environmental sampling and analysis.

By being engaged with the food industry experts, other inspectors, regulators from across the United States and by extension the world, the EHOs and PHOs were able to exchange best practices, discuss common challenges and gain valuable insights that they could then apply to enhance the efficacy of our own local programs.  The natural collaboration within the conference fostered a sense of camaraderie and common goals, as the shared commitment was aimed at protecting public health.

The officers returned equipped with the tools to cultivate and sustain a future rich general Environmental Health Department of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.