REPORT:  Week Long UK Health Assessment and Support to TCI Health Ministry, as Cholera case contained

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, July 3, 2023 – Following an imported case of cholera at the beginning of June, the UK sent some of its health agents from the UK Health Security Agency to the TCI to support the territory in preventing, potentially an outbreak.  In recent updates from the Ministry of Health, we have learned the group comprised microbiologists, behavioural scientists and more.

During their week-long stay, the group toured the country’s medical facilities and met with top government officials. Agents were able to see firsthand the local communities; TCI Hospital clinical set up inclusive of the laboratory; the National Public Health Laboratory; the Blue Hills Community Clinic; the Detention Center and His Majesty’s Prison.

We are told the expert group also met with members of the local community.

Currently the TCI has limited testing capacity and must rely on overseas help to screen certain diseases which can slow down confirmation and possibly allow undetected spread. This was one of the issues the team attempted to address.

Discussed with officials were the best ways to strengthen surveillance for cholera and other highly contagious diseases, to  augment laboratory capacity and community engagement.

The team fro UKSCA was led by Natalie Wright, Health Protection Lead and Consultant in Global Public Health and included Matthew Dryden, Consultant Microbiologist, John Lee-Laboratory lead for the UKOTs (UK Overseas Territories) programme, and Dale Weston, Behavioural Scientist.

Shaun D Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services described the visit as ‘timely’.

The Ministry says ‘all discussions were fruitful and complemented work which has been ongoing for a number of years under the UKOTs programme that focuses on public health strengthening.’