[Experience with field epidemiology training programs in Africa: Cours IEIAA]

The International Course on Epidemiology and Applied Data Processing in Africa (Cours IEIAA) is a practical 4-week French-language training course for professional health care personnel working in Africa. The first course was organized in 1998 by the Association pour l'Aide à la Médecine Préventive (Association for the Promotion of Preventive Medicine). The course organizing committee includes a pedagogical director and a faculty of field epidemiology experts. Course activities are designed to give attendees competency in epidemiology, biostatistics, computer techniques and communication. Attendance is funded mainly through education grants from the French Foreign Affairs Ministry, WHO, UNICEF, Belgian Technical Cooperation, Swiss Technical Cooperation, and German GTZ. Based on 7 years of experience, consideration is now being given to transforming this course into a tutorial Field Epidemiology Training Program modeled after those now operating in Ghana and Uganda [TEPHINET members Programs located in Africa].