Uganda FETP-Intermediate starts Cohort 5, 4-17 January 2024

FETP-Intermediate is a supervised, on-the-job, competency-based and service training program to improve field epidemiologic capacity at the national and regional level of the health service delivery system. It builds trainees competencies in surveillance, data analysis and interpretation, outbreak investigation, scientific communication, and mentorship. The 9-month part-time training program involves residential trainings interspersed with on-job field projects during which participants return to workstations and conduct job-relevant projects to concretize what they have learned.
Since August 2021, the program has graduated four cohorts (59 participants). With the skills and competences gained through the training, graduates are in better position to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies within their regions, and generate evidence for appropriate action, planning and policy.
Cohort 5 training started on Monday 5 February 2024 with 24 participants from Moroto, Mbale, Jinja, Lira, Gulu, Arua, Yumbe, Hoima and Entebbe Regional Referral Hospitals/ Emergency Operation Centers, Ministry of Health Department of Integrated Epidemiology, Surveillance and Public Health, National TB and Leprosy Program, the Uganda National Extended Program on Immunization, the Central Public Health Laboratories, Uganda Prisons and Uganda People’s Defense Force.

FETP-Intermediate classroom workshops include a mixture of lessons, individual and group exercises, case studies, and hands-on computer training. Workshop 1 mainly focuses on understanding the basics of public health surveillance including surveillance data analysis, interpretation and dissemination,
outbreak investigation, epidemiologic study designs and communication.

After the workshop, participants return to their duty stations and are assigned projects to conduct to concretize what they have learned. They do this with the support of mentors assigned to them. For this cohort, ten mentors who are alumni or current trainees of the Advanced FETP will be supporting the team. Before returning to the field, participants discuss with their mentors and strategize on how best to achieve the tasks at hand.

Participants are assessed throughout the training through pre and post-tests, daily evaluations and feedback on sessions delivered. At the end of five modular workshops, participants who have successfully completed the training shall be awarded certificates cosigned by the Ministry of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.