Dr. Gredia Huerta presenting at Eastern University, Arecibo, PR
As peak mosquito season approaches, CRECE and PROTECT have continued to reach out to local communities to provide education on Zika virus prevention. Community Outreach and Translation Core members Dr. Carmen Vélez Vega, Dr. Gredia Huertas, Abigail Figueroa, and trainee Colleen Murphy were invited to the Arecibo Campus of Eastern University, a private institution, to provide information on Zika prevention as well as an overview of CRECE and PROTECT. A group of 40 undergraduate students and their professors attended and were engaged in conversation addressing misconceptions pertaining to Zika. The university falls within the region that CRECE and PROTECT study, and has requested CRECE’s participation in future events.
On April 6th, COTC member Dr. Gredia Huerta presented on Zika at the EPA’s “Reducing Pesticides in Puerto Rico” Conference. Dr. Huerta will be conducting the same presentation for the EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) meeting in May 2016. The CHPAC is a group of researchers, healthcare providers, environmentalists, state and tribal employees, and community members who advise the EPA on regulations, research, and communications related to children’s health.
In addition to these activities, CRECE and PROTECT have provided resources to local healthcare professionals about avoiding the Zika virus. Both centers are also providing mosquito nets to the pregnant women and mothers with newborn children who make up our cohorts. Visit our News page to learn more about our efforts against the Zika virus.