The Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program graduated another cohort of Field Epidemiologists in January 2018. This was the second cohort of fellows trained in field epidemiology through an intensive 2 year in-service training. The nine graduands were awarded in a colorful ceremony hosted at Golf Course Hotel, Kampala on 24 January, 2018. The ceremony was attended by Uganda Ministry of Health officials, CDC Country Director and staff, the World Health Organization Country Representative, staff from Makerere University, USAID and District Health Officers.
The guest of Honor, Prof. David Sserwadda appreciated the achievements by the graduands and urged them to use the capabilities gained during the two-year training to benefit Uganda and the African continent. Fellows were appreciated for providing high quality outputs at their respective host sites and improving Uganda’s capacity to respond to numerous disease outbreaks. Prompt response to threats that affect safety and health of people is vital thus, the need to develop robust capacity in the health system. He urged fellows to demonstrate high levels of professionalism as they provided health service in various fields.
During the ceremony, the graduands presented their defense using some of their projects highlighting evidence-based and policy relevant recommendations for some of the public health challenges faced in Uganda. Projects under taken by fellows ranged from evaluation of surveillance systems in refugee settlements, responding to public health emergencies, projects on HIV, and public health interventions aimed at improving quality of service delivery.
The certificate award ceremony was graced by the Dean of School of Public Health Makerere University, Assoc Prof Rhoda Wanyenze, who appreciated Ministry of Health for integrating the program with an overall aim of enhancing capacity in disease control and prevention. The Director General Health Services, Ministry of Health stressed the need of embracing the One Health approach in handling public health challenges.