Five (5) Environmental Health Officers from the Turks and Caicos Islands Public and Environmental Health Department recently attended the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) 2025 Annual Educational Conference (AEC), held in Phoenix Arizona July 14th – 17th. The NEHA AEC is the premier event for environmental health professionals, offering a platform for education, collaboration, and advancing the practice of environmental health.
The group included Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officers, Crivanne Adams and Kenya Jones and Environmental Health Officers Clevesha Outten, Felicity Patrick-Husband and Tashy Forbes. During the conference, the officers attended a wide range of sessions and workshops that spanned core areas such as Food Safety, Climate and Health, Data and Technology, Emergency Preparedness, Recovery and Resilience, Infectious and Vector-borne Diseases, Water Quality, Sustainability and Workforce and Leadership.
The event featured several key figures and leaders in the environmental and public health sector, who led sessions and panels focused on navigating modern challenges and strengthening the field for current and future practitioners. Officers participated in discussions on the current state of environmental health, the impact of pollution, and the importance of a One Health approach that recognizes the interconnection between humans, animals and environmental health. One standout session, “Blueprint to Action: Building and Managing an Effective Vector Control Program”, equipped participants with practical tools and insights on designing, implementing, and managing successful vector control initiatives. Topics included surveillance, resource allocation, monitoring and evaluation, staff training, and adherence to public health guidelines.
The knowledge and tools gained from this conference will directly support the department’s efforts to strengthen its environmental health programs and better address the complex problems we face as an Island nation which includes issues such as climate vulnerability, limited infrastructure and resource constraints. Officers returned with new ideas and strategies to enhance community engagement and interagency coordination with the goal of changing behaviours through education, enforcement of regulations, and promoting shared accountability.
This engagement reflects the department’s commitment to continuous professional development. In addition to this the department is actively working towards ensuring that all officers are certified professionals. To date, two officers have successfully completed and passed the NEHA Registered Environmental Health Specialists/Registered Sanitarian (REHS/RS) examination. Continued education and training remain essential, both to maintain certification and to stay current in the ever-evolving field of public and environmental public health.
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