Sustainable Collaboration in the Dutch Caribbean

Mathias: “This work trip has been in the planning for a long time! With support from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and coordinator Marieta Braks of the capacity building program ‘MoBoCon’ (Mosquito-Borne Control), we have finally made it a success. Over the past few days, we trained eight highly committed and skilled members of the vector and health promotion teams from the ABC Islands in using our educational mosquito prevention program, ‘Give Mosquitoes No Chance.’ We then immediately implemented this program with the team at the Aruban primary school ‘Colegio Santa Famia,’ and it went surprisingly well.”

Mathias: “It’s great to see that our educational program is also resonating with schools in Aruba and that local professionals can work with it effectively.” In the wrap-up session of the GreenKidz work trip, all delegations from the ABC Islands expressed their desire for sustainable collaboration in the future, both with each other and with GreenKidz, in delivering mosquito prevention workshops and educational activities for primary schools. Mathias: “Each island has its own system and teams for mosquito prevention, and it’s important to explore how our program fits into that, as well as how the islands can share their own knowledge and experiences with one another!”