The Primary Healthcare Unit within the Ministry of Health and Human Services hosted “The Outbreak Session”, a refresher and sensitization training on measles and polio outbreak and response.
The Region of the Americas is constantly under threat of outbreaks and importation of communicable diseases because of travel and trade. The Turks and Caicos is no exception and as such, it is necessary that we remain vigilant and prepared for any threat. The training took place between 20 -21 September 2023 in Providenciales. Participants in this training were team leaders from government and private healthcare facilities across the TCI, who are responsible for response within their various islands and facilities.
On day one of this training, the focus was on the measles outbreak and response. In 2021, the Ministry of Health hosted a wider measles outbreak and response training which included participants from across healthcare facilities in the TCI at all levels. This year’s training was focused on offering the team leaders from all facilities a refresher in an effort to strengthen their response and reporting duties. Participants on day one benefitted from presentations by various team members on surveillance, laboratory response, clinical aspects, and outbreak response. At the end of the presentations, participants were placed in groups to carry out a tabletop simulation exercise.
On day two, team leaders were sensitized on the Turks and Caicos Islands polio outbreak and response plan. The plan was reviewed and discussed, and updates were made. Through the training, team leaders were able to identify areas of the response plan that required strengthening.
Commenting on this training was Ms. Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care Manager with responsibility for the expanded program on immunization for the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the immunization program and the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases. Although the Americas lead in vaccination, we are a vulnerable region because of our many popular tourist destinations, creating a gateway for the importation of vaccine-preventable diseases. Coupled with the exodus of skilled public health professionals, particularly from the English-speaking Caribbean countries, this further creates a new level of vulnerability for us. Since the pandemic, the region of the Americas has lost many gains and there was a continuous call by the Pan American Health Organisation to all member state countries to strengthen their surveillance systems to improve early detection of any communicable disease to prevent disease spread and loss of life. A good vaccination program and a strong surveillance system work together to prevent outbreaks and control the spread of diseases. It was imperative that our team leaders were given an opportunity to refresh their skills and knowledge and gain new information to prepare them for any threat of measles and polio. With this refresher and sensitization session, it is our hope that we can continue to build on an already successful vaccination program and strengthen our disease surveillance system. We wish to thank the Pan American Health Organisation Office for the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos for their generous support in facilitating this two-day training”.
