The Ministry of Health and Human Services proudly celebrates the graduation of four members of the National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU), who successfully completed the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) – Level II.
The graduates are:
· Ms. Sasha Walrond – National Epidemiologist
· Ms. Kendra Malcolm – Deputy National Epidemiologist
· Ms. Daisylyn Chin – Biostatistician
· Ms. Natasha Robinson – Health Surveillance Officer
The officers officially graduated during a hybrid ceremony held on Friday, 19th September 2025, at the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre.
The CR-FELTP Level II programme, implemented by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), is an 8-month advanced training initiative designed to strengthen epidemiology, surveillance, and laboratory capacity across the region. The programme was funded by the Pandemic Fund, with CARPHA as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity.
Over the course of 8-months, the four NERU officers participated in 9 intensive online sessions and a five-day in-person workshop in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in February 2025. The workshop provided advanced training in outbreak investigation, surveillance, and data analysis using specialised tools such as R statistical software. Through this training, participants honed their skills in interpreting surveillance data and applying evidence-based decision-making to public health challenges.
Turks and Caicos Islands was one of five CARPHA Member States represented in this cohort, alongside the Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Commenting on this significant achievement, Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services, Kyle Knowles stated: “This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for the department and by extension the Ministry of Health and Human Services, as it expands the country’s pool of trained public health professionals. This will strengthen TCI’s capacity to monitor disease trends, rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks, and inform policy through high-quality epidemiological data.”
NERU remains committed to fostering professional growth within its team and advancing evidence-based public health practice in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
