Mosquito Awareness Week to Focus on Source
The Environmental Health Division (EHD) and regional partners will observe Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week from May 11–15, 2026 under the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction,” with a renewed emphasis on practical community action and youth engagement. Alongside public outreach, school visits and media engagements, the EHD is inviting students to enter Poetry and Art Competitions to help spread prevention messages across the Virgin Islands.
The Environmental Health Division (EHD) is joining regional partners to observe Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week from May 11–15, 2026 under the theme “Stop Disease Transmission, Start Source Reduction,” the BVI Government announced. This year’s campaign places a strong emphasis on source reduction — the simple, everyday actions that stop Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from breeding — and on empowering communities, especially young people, to become advocates for healthier homes and neighbourhoods.
The EHD said the mosquito’s small size belies its potential impact on public health, with dengue, chikungunya and Zika among the diseases of concern. Throughout the week the Division will be actively engaging residents through public outreach activities, school visits and media engagements aimed at raising awareness and encouraging practical behaviour change, according to the government release.
The message from the Acting Chief Environmental Health Officer, Ms. Henrietta Alexander, is clear: “Vector control is everyone’s business,” and community participation is critical to protecting public health across the Territory. As part of the observance the EHD and the Ministry of Health and Social Development are encouraging young people to use creativity as a tool for public health education.
Students aged 8–11 are invited to enter the Poetry Competition to explore the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the diseases it spreads and practical prevention steps through verse. Pupils in Grades 5–8 and Grades 9–12 may submit artwork in any medium for the Art Competition, depicting the mosquito’s life cycle and the importance of eliminating standing water and other source-reduction measures.
The competitions are designed both to reward creativity and to use young people’s work as tools for community outreach, the government statement said. Winning entries will receive prizes including gift certificates, art supplies and creative experiences, and top works will be publicly featured to help spread prevention messages across the Territory.
All entries must be submitted by May 15, 2026. Submissions can be emailed to ehd@gov.vg or hand delivered to the Environmental Health Division, 1st Floor, Social Development Building (across from the Red Cross). Each entry must include the student’s name, grade, school and parent/guardian contact information.
For further competition or public-health programme details, contact Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey, Public Health Communications Specialist, Ministry of Health and Social Development, at 468-2286 or nlettsome@gov.vg (source: BVI Government). Residents are reminded that mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of standing water.
The EHD recommends routine checks around homes and businesses to empty, scrub and cover water-holding items, and to remove, turn over or dispose of containers that collect water. For international media enquiries contact BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com; for general government services call (284) 468-3701 or use WhatsApp at (284) 468-9760 (source: Government of the Virgin Islands).
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to protecting and promoting the health and social well-being of Virgin Islanders through effective policies, sustainable programmes and strategic partnerships that support a safe, healthy and resilient society (source: BVI Government).
Primary source: BVI Government