By the year 2018 when Cohort 2016 graduated, the Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program (PHFP) had enrolled 41 Fellows in Field Epidemiology Track since 2015, 10 in 2015, another 10 in 2016, additional 11 in 2017 and the newest 10 in 2018. Over those 3 years, the 30 Fellows had conducted more than 60 outbreak investigations on high priority diseases of public health importance; thereby contributing to their effective management and control. They had also analyzed public health surveillance data and conducted evaluation of public health surveillance systems with the aim of improving detection of disease epidemic alerts and prompting early response. All in all, Fellows had implemented a total of 252 projects, which is no mean achievement.
In addition, Fellows had made 132 presentations at national and international conferences, winning four awards including the prestigious CDC Director’s Award for Excellence in Outbreak Investigation and Response at the 2017 EIS Conference. Fellows have made significant appearances in the local media, contributing feature articles on key topics of public health importance.
Another important achievement is the rejuvenation of the Ministry of Health Bulletin code named Uganda National Institute of Public Health Quarterly Epidemiological Bulletin where Fellows have participated very effectively as editors and article contributors. Nine volumes had so far been produced since commencement of the program three years ago. In addition, PHFP initiated three new bulletins i.e. Neglected Tropical Diseases Bulletin, National TB and Leprosy Program Bulletin and Non Communicable Diseases Bulletin, where the fellows and other MoH epidemiologists and officers publish valuable public health information for consumption by the public and scientific world.
Fellows submitted a total of 40 scientific manuscripts to reputable peer-reviewed journals. Seventeen manuscripts by 2018 had so far been published and the other 23 had either been accepted or still undergoing peer reviews.
This report presents the profiles of Cohort 2016 Fellows and their achievements over the two-year period of training in service from January 2015 – December 2017. Enjoy the reading!