The Ministry of Health and Human Services has stepped up its cholera public awareness campaign with the release today of a series of locally produced TV and Radio Public Service Announcements or PSAs. The PSAs, to be broadcast in English, Spanish and Creole, will keep the TCI public alert to the causes and dangers of cholera and demonstrate the healthy practices which will prevent them catching or spreading the disease.
Director of Health Services Dr. Rufus Ewing has welcomed this latest outreach:
“The entire TCI public has to become involved in the fight to ensure that cholera, which continues to affect neighboring Haiti and the Dominican Republic, does not reach the Turks and Caicos Islands, and if it does, that we do what is necessary to keep it contained. To do so every one needs to be informed about the disease including how to recognize the symptoms and how to avoid catching and spreading it. We have incorporated a lot of this information in these PSAs.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Judith Campbell has urged the public to embrace the habits being promoted in the PSAs.
“The key message being promoted is WASH. This highlights:
Water purification
Avoiding contact with infected persons,
Sanitation and
Hand hygiene.
The PSAs demonstrate these practices in simple easy to follow ways which we hope will be embraced by all members the TCI community. I look forward to receiving feedback from the public as we all work to keep the Turks and Caicos cholera free, and I am grateful to the Pan American Health Organisation for funding this initiative.”
The PSAs were sponsored by PANO/WHO
The Ministry of Health has taken several measures to prevent and control the spread of cholera in the TCI since the cholera epidemic started in neighbouring Haiti and Dominican Republic. To date these include:
- Increased surveillance at all sea and airports of entry to ensure that any potential cholera cases are detected rapidly
- Requiring all health care providers to report cases of diarrhea to the Ministry of Health
- Improved water purification and sanitation efforts
- Developing public communication and education campaigns
- Forming a Cholera Prevention and Control Committee and Sub-committees addressing:- surveillance, cholera care and treatment, health education and communication, and water purification, sanitation and clinical infrastructure
