National Epidemiology and Research Unit

National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU) participated in the Caribbean Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP) – Level II in person training workshop

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) launched a five-day in-person training workshop under the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (CR-FELTP) – Level II. The goal of CR-FELTP is to build epidemiology, surveillance, and laboratory capacity through practical learning that addresses current and future public health needs in the Caribbean Region. This overarchingly strengthens public health response capacity. 

The five-day in-person training workshop, which was held at the Kapok Hotel, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 17-21 February 2025, is part of the 8-month CR-FELTP Level II training programme. The workshop was funded by the Pandemic Fund, with CARPHA as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. This initiative is a critical part of CARPHA’s ongoing efforts to build regional resilience against public health threats through workforce development.

Turks and Caicos Islands is one of the 5 CARPHA Member States that is part of this FELTP Level II cohort, which also includes Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. These countries are represented by public health professionals from various public health fields, including epidemiology, surveillance, laboratory science, vector control, and environmental health.

Four out of the 11 trainees in the FELTP Level II cohort are from the Turks and Caicos Islands and they are all members of the National Epidemiology and Research Unit (NERU), Ms. Sasha Walrond, Ms. Kendra Malcolm, Ms. Daisylyn Chin and Ms. Natasha Robinson. The training facilitated by Dr. Shelly Rodrigo, facilitator of the CR-FELTP Level II programme, allowed participants to gain advanced training in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and epidemiological data analysis using specialised tools like R (statistical software). Through interactive sessions, data analysis exercises, and scenario-based learning, the trainees refined their abilities to interpret surveillance data and make evidence-based public health decisions. 

This training represents a valuable opportunity for the expansion of trained public health professionals in the TCI. This will boost our capacity to continue monitoring disease trends, rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks, and mitigate public health risks before they escalate. It also strengthens our ability to continuously provide critical health data for programme planning, implementation, policy development, and evidence-based decision making for public health measures.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services remains committed to prioritizing the professional development of its staff to enhance public health outcomes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.