Uganda continues to face public health emergencies and training more field epidemiologists to manage these emergencies is vital. On 31st August 2021, Uganda officially launched the intermediate-level field epidemiology training (FETP-Intermediate). This completes the CDC-funded FETP pyramid model in the country, which already had the FETP-Advanced and FETP-Frontline in place. FETP-Intermediate is a supervised, on-the-job, competency-based training and service (workforce development) program to improve field epidemiologic capacity at the regional level. It aims to build competencies in surveillance, data analysis and interpretation, outbreak investigation, communication, and mentorship. The 9-month training 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.
The first cohort of FETP-Intermediate trainees comprises 17 health workers from four regional hospitals (Kabale, Fort Portal, Entebbe and Naguru) and MoH headquarters. Participants include M&E specialists, community health specialists, medical officers, nursing officers, and hospital planners, among others. Trainees will be mentored by FETP-Advanced fellows and program staff and will in turn be expected to mentor their colleagues at their workplaces. Graduation is expected to be in April 2022.
The launch event which was hosted by the FETP-I Technical Advisor, Miss Doreen Gonahasa, took place at the Mansion Hotel in Jinja and was officiated by Hon. Natalie Brown, the United States Ambassador to Uganda. Also in attendance was the Country Director for CDC Uganda, Dr. Lisa Nelson, Uganda FETP Resident Advisor Dr. Julie Harris, the director of the National Institute of Public Health, Dr. Alex Ario, and the Ag. Asst. Commissioner of Health Services, Division of Health Information, Ministry of Health, Mr. Paul Mbaka.