A number of fresh and persuasive young voices will now be heard on the Anguilla airwaves in a new set of jingles for the Department of Health Protection at the Environmental Health Unit.
The crisp jingles, dealing with vector control, follow the participation of all the pre-schools in a competition held at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Tuesday morning. The event was sponsored by the Caribbean Commercial Bank and the theme was: “Its time for those fleas to flee”.
St Mary’s Pre-school placed first with a score of 80 points. In second place was the Church of God of Prophecy Pre-school with 77 points; and placing third was the Outreach Pre-school with 74 points.
The 2012 champions were the students from the Church of God of Prophecy Pre-school.
Vincent Carty, Senior Environmental Health Officer, said the vector awareness programme in Anguilla was now in its fourteenth year. “Such campaigns heighten the awareness of all residents of Anguilla on vector control issues that confront us on a daily basis, and should provide us with simple and correct resolutions,” he said.
Mr Carty added that the involvement of the pre-schools in the vector control campaign was to enable “our young and upcoming students to express their talent.” He continued: “Through this jingle competition, the Vector Control Team, along with the rest of the staff of Health Protection, acknowledge that the expanding access of high quality early childhood education is among the smartest investments that we can make.”
He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Caribbean Commercial Bank, the platinum sponsor of the competition, for making it possible for the young students to showcase their ability and to be of much assistance to vector control in Anguilla.
CCB’s representative, Wade Richardson, said the indigenous financial institution was delighted to be part of the annual vector awareness programme. “We want to assure you that CCB remains committed to being part of the effort undertaken by the Environmental Health Unit,” he told the pre-school teachers, parents and students. “As we know, it is a challenging time, for the past few years, not only for individuals but also for institutions as well but, as part of society, we all have to participate [in providing assistance]. “Our involvement is about developing the awareness of the younger generation and we wish them well.”
The judges for the competition were Jaine Rogers, Director of the JC Recreational Centre at South Hill (a safe haven for children to play and learn life skills); Latoya Matthew,a Graduate Teacher in Hospitality;and Crispin Brooks, a Videography and Production Specialist.
