The Turks and Caicos Islands wins the Henry C Smith Award for Immunisation

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 3 November 2023: The Henry C. Smith Immunisation Award is given to the country in the English-speaking Caribbean that shows improvement in vaccination coverage in the under-five-year age group.  This is the second time that the Turks and Caicos Islands has won this award.  While the TCI maintains very good vaccination coverage generally, in 2022, there was a marked improvement in the primary doses of childhood vaccines.  The TCI achieved 94% in Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) dose 1, an increase from 88% in 2021, 99% in MMR 2, an increase from 82% in 2021 and 99% in Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Haemophilus Influenza Type B and Hepatitis B, an increase from 94% in 2021.

The award is presented annually at the expanded programme on Immunisation Managers’ meeting.  This year the meeting was held in Belize City, Belize.  Accepting the award on behalf of the TCI was Ms. Alrisa Gardiner, Primary Health Care Manager with responsibility for the country’s EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunisation) programme.

Commenting on the achievement, Ms. Gardiner said, “Today was truly emotional.  This is the second time the TCI has won this award.  We have been working tirelessly to achieve these coverages.  We always boast of our good coverages, but we always wanted to do better because we know that there are children that we are missing.  Every missed child is an opportunity for the importation of a vaccine-preventable disease such as measles to arrive on our shores.  I quote one of our advisors saying “Vaccine-preventable diseases don’t need visas and passports to travel”. 

This award is not final.  We must continue working to maintain these high coverages and work even harder to make our disease surveillance system stronger to detect any suspected cases.  I must thank the government of the TCI, past and present for always keeping the EPI programme at the forefront of their agenda; the protection of our most vulnerable is paramount.  Secondly, I wish to thank the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Human Services and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation Representative for the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos for their unwavering support; no request to strengthen and improve our programme is denied.  Great things happen when we have great support. 

Thirdly, I wish to thank the hardworking Public Health Nurses, nursing, and support staff of the Primary Health Care Unit for their hard work and dedication to achieving our goals for 2022.  You are the backbone of this programme and I salute you.  Finally, I wish to thank the parents who believe in this public good.  Thank you for prioritising your children’s health and wellness and understanding the importance of protecting them from the unknown”.

 Commenting on the award, “the Minister of Health and Human Services – Hon. Shaun D. Malcolm expressed his elation over such a prestigious achievement.  He expressed his profound gratitude and thanks to the Primary Health Manager Nurse Alrisa Gardiner and her team for the hard work they do on a daily basis, and also stated that this award is a testament to their unwavering commitment to the Immunisation Programme and Primary Healthcare in general in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  He also thanked the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis, Deputy Permanent Secretaries Ms. Renessa Williams and Ms. Tamera Howell-Robinson, and the Chief Medical Officer –Dr. Nadia Astwood for their leadership and management within the Ministry on a daily basis”.

While vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, polio and diphtheria have not been seen in the TCI for many years, the threat of importation of these diseases is real.  We note with COVID-19 how easily diseases can enter countries through travel and spread and how it can affect our population.

If you are uncertain about your child’s immunization status, please visit any of the government operated Primary Health Care Clinics and talk to your Public Health Nurse.  For more information call 649-338-5469.

Let us continue to keep the TCI, VPD free!