THE APRIL 29 LAUNCH WILL INTRODUCE A MULTI-SECTORAL INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING NATIONAL ACTION.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, in collaboration with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the European Union, will host the official launch of the Vector-Borne Disease Public Education Campaign (VBD PEC) titled “Mosquito No More.”

The lauch will be held on Tuesday, April 29, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the conference room of the Bel Jou Hotel.

The groundbreaking campaign is a multisectoral initiative focused on strengthening national action through:

• Public Awareness
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Community-Driven Solutions

Background and Rationale
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) remain a persistent public health challenge in Saint Lucia, exacerbated by socio-economic vulnerabilities, limited public awareness, and insufficient engagement across key sectors. While efforts exist within individual ministries, a coordinated, culturally relevant, and community-driven approach is lacking. CARPHA, in collaboration with national stakeholders, has initiated a Public Education Campaign (PEC) using a realist framework to explore what works, for whom, and under what conditions.

A recent scoping mission revealed critical gaps and opportunities in VBD prevention, including:
• Inadequate digital communication and M&E systems
• Limited integration of VBD content in school curricula
• Socioeconomic barriers to behaviour change
• Underutilization of religious and tourism sector platforms

Objective
To reduce the incidence of VBDs in Saint Lucia by launching a multisectoral public education campaign that fosters sustained behavioural change through targeted training, community engagement, and digital innovation.