FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, 28th May 2025 – The Environmental Health Department and other Public Health professionals gathered from May 20th – 22nd 2025 for a pivotal Vector Control Training Workshop sponsored by the UKRI Cari Eco-Mos grant, focused on strengthening national capacity for mosquito surveillance and data-driven vector management.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the Environmental Health Department, including the Vector Control Unit, Environmental Health Officers, and the National Epidemiology and Research Unit. This multi-agency collaboration is part of an ongoing strategy to improve technical capabilities and bolster coordinated responses to vector-borne disease threats.
Designed to enhance both individual expertise and inter-agency cooperation, the training addressed several critical areas of vector surveillance and management:
- Field Surveillance: Water Surveillance in Communities (Larval Source Identification)
- Collecting, Sorting, and Storing Mosquito Samples
- Use of EpiCollect for Data Capture
- Utilizing Surveillance Data for Mosquito Management
- Mosquito Species Identification and Classification
Participants were able to apply their training in real-time, successfully using EpiCollect, a mobile data collection platform, to gather and submit field surveillance data. This practical application reinforced the importance of digital tools in streamlining data gathering and enhancing the accuracy of surveillance efforts.
“This workshop is a key step forward in our national strategy to combat vector-borne diseases. By investing in surveillance and data collection, and by fostering collaboration across departments, we are building a more responsive and resilient public health system,” said Mr. Trefa Hinds – Chief Environmental Health Officer.
Commenting on the workshop, Honourable Kyle Knowles, Minister of Health and Human Services, stated that “The UKRI Cari Eco-Mos-supported initiative underscores a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based mosquito control programs and ensuring that surveillance systems can respond effectively to emerging threats. I would also like to offer special thanks to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine for their invaluable technical support and continued partnership in building capacity for vector surveillance and public health innovation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
For more information about this initiative or the 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.
