FE-Cohort 2021

By the year 2023 when Cohort 2021 graduated, the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (PHFP) had enrolled 108 Fellows in Advanced Field Epidemiology since its inception in 2015; with the highest ever enrollment of 15 in 2022. Over the past 8 years (2015-2023), Fellows had contributed immensely to disease detection and control by conducting outbreak investigations, analyzing public health surveillance data, evaluating public health surveillance systems, conducting epidemiological studies and developing quality improvement projects. The 3 years of COVID-19 interspersed with Ebola outbreak witnessed the value
of having frontline responders deployed within short notice in the Ministry of Health. In the process of response, Fellows generated valuable information which would be used to streamline detection and response to future outbreaks in the country.
In addition, Fellows have made numerous presentations at national and international conferences, winning awards. Fellows have made significant appearances in the local media, contributing feature articles on key topics of public health importance.
The production of policy briefs and publication of the Uganda Public Health Bulletin, where Fellows had participated very effectively as editors and article contributors was another tremendous achievement. Twenty eight volumes had so far been produced since commencement of the program.

In addition, PHFP has continued to contribute to the production of the Malaria Quarterly Bulletin, National TB and Leprosy Program Bulletin, and Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin where the fellows and other MoH epidemiologists and officers publish valuable public health information for consumption by the public and the scientific world.
The program by 2023 had produced over 225 manuscripts, majority submitted to reputable peer-reviewed journals; 93 of which have so far been published and the other remaining ones are undergoing peer reviews at various levels.
In this report, we present to you the profiles of Cohort 2021 Fellows and their achievements over the two-year period of training in-service while placed within priority programs or institutions of the Ministry of Health.