PHFP conducts the 3rd Uganda National Field Epidemiology Conference (UNFEC)
Author: Patricia Eyu and Freda Loy Aceng
The 3rd UNFEC was held on 14 November, 2017 at Imperial Royale Hotel. The theme was “All round Approach to Epidemic Detection and Response.” This conference brought together several dignitaries from the government, academia and international guests. The guest of honor was the Hon. Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng.
The conference was organized by the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program which has enrolled 3 cohorts of 31 Fellows since its inception in 2015. At total of 35 presentations were made, 29 of which were by fellows about outbreak investigations, epidemiologic studies, analysis of surveillance data and evaluation of surveillance systems.
The conference was opened to other authors to present their work which enabled 6 Public Health Officers from the School of Public Health to present their work. This platform enabled fellows to expose the different public health challenges facing the nation and propose evidence based recommendations to policy makers.
This was also a platform for national and international experts to discuss pertinent issues arising and offer solutions. There were a number of notifiable disease investigations presented such as Anthrax, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Marburg Viral Disease and Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis among others.
