Four years into the Indian ocean field epidemiology training programme

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Surveillance

Background:

• Following the 2005-6 chikungunya outbreak, a regional project was initiated to bolster Public Health preparedness across the Indian Ocean nations.
• The Field Epidemiology Training Programme in the Indian Ocean (FETP-OI) was established in 2011 to cultivate skilled intervention epidemiologists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cadre of well-trained intervention epidemiologists within the Indian Ocean region.
• To strengthen disease surveillance and response mechanisms through hands-on training and competency transfer.

Main Methods:

• A two-year, on-the-job, learning-by-doing training program for fellows in national disease surveillance and response settings.
• Inclusion of work placements at key regional institutions and up to three annual training courses.
• Training focused on epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigations, research, scientific communication, and skills transfer.

Main Results:

• Fifteen fellows from four countries completed the FETP-OI over four years, leading 42 surveillance projects and investigating 36 outbreak alerts.
• Investigations primarily focused on foodborne pathogens, plague, and malaria, with a significant portion conducted in Madagascar.
• Fellows conducted 18 studies, presented findings at 41 conferences, and published four articles in regional bulletins, with more manuscripts in preparation.

Conclusions:

• The FETP-OI has successfully established a regional force of field epidemiologists and supervisors proficient in standardized epidemiological methods.
• The program's technical and financial sustainability supports the region's public health priorities, with the third cohort currently underway.