The Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs, in partnership with the OECS and Direct Relief, has launched a Vector Control and Public Health Workshop under the theme “Building Resilient Communities: Integrating Public Health Strategies for Vector Control, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Disease Prevention.”
The training, held at the Harrison Centre, brings together environmental and public health officers from across Antigua and Barbuda to enhance national capacity in managing vector-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.
Participants are receiving hands-on training in integrated vector management, disease surveillance, data collection, and community engagement to strengthen early detection and rapid response systems.
Minister of State Hon. Michael Joseph, addressing the opening session, praised the OECS–Direct Relief partnership, noting that “this workshop strengthens our collective ability to protect communities and ensure national health security.”
Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary Stacey Gregg-Paige, Chief Health Inspector Sharon Martin, and Deputy Chief Health Inspector Daryl Spencer.
The initiative forms part of the OECS Direct Relief Project, which supports regional health resilience by improving preparedness, response, and recovery from climate-sensitive diseases.
I hope they are all paying attention because I think this is a very critical training and we expect them to implement all that they have learnt in the event that they have to deal with any of the mentioned diseases
Hopefully this workshop actually translates to action on the ground, not just another meeting full of PowerPoint slides.