Zambia field epidemiology training program: strengthening health security through workforce development.
National Public Health Institute
Sub-Saharan Africa
outbreak investigation
public health surveillance
Journal
The Pan African medical journal
ISSN: 1937-8688
Titre abrégé: Pan Afr Med J
Pays: Uganda
ID NLM: 101517926
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2020
2020
Historique:
received:
09
11
2019
accepted:
24
11
2019
entrez:
16
11
2020
pubmed:
17
11
2020
medline:
15
1
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The Zambia Field Epidemiology Training Program (ZFETP) was established by the Ministry of Health (MoH) during 2014, in order to increase the number of trained field epidemiologists who can investigate outbreaks, strengthen disease surveillance, and support data-driven decision making. We describe the ZFETP´s approach to public health workforce development and health security strengthening, key milestones five years after program launch, and recommendations to ensure program sustainability. Program description: ZFETP was established as a tripartite arrangement between the Zambia MoH, the University of Zambia School of Public Health, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The program runs two tiers: Advanced and Frontline. To date, ZFETP has enrolled three FETP-Advanced cohorts (training 24 residents) and four Frontline cohorts (training 71 trainees). In 2016, ZFETP moved organizationally to the newly established Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). This re-positioning raised the program´s profile by providing residents with increased opportunities to lead high-profile outbreak investigations and analyze national surveillance data-achievements that were recognized on a national stage. These successes attracted investment from the Government of Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and donors, thus accelerating field epidemiology workforce capacity development in Zambia. In its first five years, ZFETP achieved early success due in part to commitment from GRZ, and organizational positioning within the newly formed ZNPHI, which have catalyzed ZFETP´s institutionalization. During the next five years, ZFETP seeks to sustain this momentum by expanding training of both tiers, in order to accelerate the professional development of field epidemiologists at all levels of the public health system.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33193977
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.323.20917
pii: PAMJ-36-323
pmc: PMC7603807
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
323Informations de copyright
Copyright: Ramya Kumar et al.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare no competing interests.
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