PRESS RELEASE
FROM The Environmental Health Department
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 19th May 2025 – The Department of Environmental Health under the Ministry of Health and Human Services, wishes to announce that the Turks & Caicos Islands will observe Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week (CMAW) from May 26 to 30, 2025, under the regional theme “Small Bite, Big Threat…. Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction.”
This annual observance stems from a regional initiative by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which has emphasized the ongoing threat posed by mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and malaria across the Caribbean region.
“The Ministry’s commitment to mosquito awareness and vector control reflects our shared responsibility in safeguarding public health and ensuring the well-being of communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands. We are listening, and we are fully dedicated to enhancing our efforts in reducing mosquito breeding sources and mitigating the risk of disease transmission. The Ministry has pledged to strengthen its surveillance programs, improve public education initiatives, and forge closer partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders such as CARPHA to implement effective and sustainable vector control strategies moving forward” stated the Minister of Health and Human Services Hon. Kyle Knowles.
Mosquitoes, though small, pose a significant threat to one’s health and well-being. These vectors are responsible for transmitting debilitating and, in some cases, life-threatening illnesses. As the rainy season approaches, it is crucial that we work together to reduce mosquito breeding and interrupt the cycle of disease transmission.
In alignment with this initiative, the Environmental Health Department in Turks and Caicos will carry out several activities aimed at public education and engagement. These include:
- School visits across all islands to raise awareness among students
- A special segment on the Health Matters programme on Radio Turks and Caicos to bring about awareness of mosquitoes, disease transmission and source reduction initiatives
- A Poster and Jingle Competition to involve youth and creatives in spreading the message.
Details of these activities will be shared on the Ministry of Health and Human Services Health Facebook page in the coming days.
We are calling on all residents, schools, businesses, and community groups to actively participate in this year’s activities as we work together to protect our environment and safeguard public health. Community participation is key to eliminating mosquito-breeding sites, which are often found in and around our homes, schools, and places of business.
Let us continue “Charting a Course for Good Health” by taking simple but effective steps—such as covering water containers, disposing of unused items that collect water, and keeping our surroundings clean.
For more information about this initiative or ongoing work of the Environmental Health Department, please contact ehd@gov.tc or call 338-2143/44. Please also visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth.
