A Leap Forward in Digital Health for the Caribbean: Turks and Caicos Islands Lead the Way by implementing VPD-SMART with PAHO/WHO Support
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – NOV 06, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are setting a new standard for public health surveillance in the Caribbean, successfully implementing an innovative, DHIS2-based digital system known as VPD-SMART (Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance, Monitoring, Analysis, Reporting, and Tracking). This significant achievement marks TCI as the first country in the Americas to pilot the VPD-SMART Android offline application, demonstrating a powerful commitment to modernizing health information systems and disease control.
The successful implementation was the result of an intensive in-country technical assistance mission led by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) from November 3-5 in Providenciales. This mission solidified the foundations for enhanced surveillance of critical vaccine-preventable diseases such as Measles, Rubella (MR), and Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP).
A cornerstone of this initiative was the generous donation of tablets from PAHO/WHO with the support of the Canada Grant to the TCI Ministry of Health and Human Services, specifically equipped for the new VPD-SMART application. These devices empower frontline health workers with the tools needed for efficient, real-time data collection, even in areas with limited internet connectivity. Thus, TCI proudly stands as the first country to successfully pilot the VPD-SMART Android offline application, showcasing the immense potential for digital health solutions across the region.
