Africa CDC opens applications for African Epidemic Service Fellowship Program to boost public health

ETHIOPIA — In honor of World Field Epidemiology Day, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has announced the initiation of applications for its esteemed African Epidemic Service – Epidemiology Track Fellowship Programme.

This prestigious two-year training program, developed in partnership with the African Union (AU) and under the auspices of Africa CDC, is a testament to the vital contributions of field epidemiologists in safeguarding public health and global health security.

In recent years, Africa CDC has been at the forefront of supporting field epidemiology training initiatives across the African continent.

This commitment has borne fruit, with 49 frontline and 63 advanced residents successfully graduating from the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) across more than 13 AU Member States.

These graduates represent a formidable force in the battle against infectious diseases and public health threats.

The Ebola epidemic that swept through West Africa from 2014 to 2015 underscored the critical need to enhance public health prevention, detection, and response capabilities.

In response, several AU Member States initiated their field epidemiology training programs, recognizing the indispensable role of epidemiologists in disease control.

To further bolster health security on the continent, Africa CDC has forged a strategic partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin.

This partnership aims to strengthen integrated disease surveillance at the community level, democratize genomic surveillance, and fortify epidemic intelligence. The initial phase will roll out in Gambia, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Tunisia, and South Africa.

Recognizing the pivotal role of primary care in both infectious and non-communicable disease prevention and management, Africa CDC has secured funding to support primary healthcare facilities in rural areas.

By enhancing information technology and empowering community health workers, even clinics without advanced facilities can contribute significantly to healthcare delivery.

As part of its mission to mentor and nurture the next generation of public health leaders, Africa CDC has allocated US$3.9 million this year to training programs, including those for field epidemiologists.

In partnership with the Kofi Annan Foundation, 40 leaders of public health institutions from 31 AU member states have received training, with another 20 recently accepted for the program.

Expanding networks of laboratories is another critical endeavor for Africa CDC. Since 2020, the Africa CDC’s Pathogen Genomics Initiative has conducted five training sessions and provided sequencing and automation systems, equipment, and reagents to 14 AU member states, thereby widening access to genomic surveillance.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, affirmed, “World Field Epidemiology Day is a global movement that recognizes and champions the essential role of field epidemiologists in protecting population health and advancing global health security.

“In line with this movement, Africa CDC takes pride in announcing the call for applications for this flagship initiative.”

Compliant with international health regulations and the global health security agenda, the requirement stands at one trained epidemiologist per 200,000 population and one trained veterinary epidemiologist per 400,000 animal population.

Given Africa’s projected population of approximately 2.5 billion by 2050, expanding the pool of trained epidemiologists and enhancing training quality are paramount, with a minimum target of 12,500 trained human health epidemiologists.

In addition to supporting the efforts of AU Member States, Africa CDC has introduced the Africa Epidemic Services (AES), comprising three tracks: Applied Epidemiology, Health Informatics, and Laboratory Leadership.

To facilitate engagement and discussions about these programs, Africa CDC will host webinars for Member States, fostering information sharing and real-time interaction.

The official launch of the program is scheduled to coincide with the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA).

About the fellowship program

The African Epidemic Services (AES) represents an elite workforce initiative initiated by the African Union, encompassing three specialized tracks: Epidemiology, Laboratory Leadership, and Public Health Informatics. These programs align closely with Africa CDC’s workforce development framework.

Dr. Tajudeen Raji, Head of Public Health Institutes and Research Division, elaborated, “This fellowship program spans two years of competency-based training, including three months of didactic training and 21 months of intensive field training at carefully selected sites across Africa.

Fellows will acquire more than 50 competencies through in-service training, fostering south-to-south collaboration among fellows and hosting institutions.”

The call for applications for the fellowship program is now open, commencing on September 7, 2023, and continuing through to October 26, 2023.

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