By Liapeng Raliengoane
MASERU – Last Friday saw the 15 Frontline Field Epidemiologists graduate from the Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) meant to drive preparedness, prevention and response to Public Health threats.
This 3rd cohort is the first product of Lesotho FETP, trained by Lesotho Field Epidemiologists and local mentors through the support of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
In her opening remarks, Dr. Tšepang Lekhela revealed that this was the 3rd cohort of Frontliners but the 1st cohort to receive training from Lesotho saying the other two cohorts were trained in South Africa.
“Today, we are celebrating the products of our own field training. This training capacitates us on improving the surveillance systems. 25% time is spent in the classroom and 75% in the field,” she highlighted.
The Representative of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) Dr. Herbert Kazoora said EFENET is supporting over 38 African countries and in this case supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) Lesotho to implement this Field Epidemiology Training program.
He added that this program is meant for countries to have self-reliant front line workers. “The training has ended but the journey starts today.”
The United States CDC Deputy Country Director Sherene Cora disclosed that the Lesotho program started in 2017 and this program is a demonstration of the United States government’s commitment to helping Lesotho reach greater heights.
MoH Principal Secretary (PS) ‘Maneo Ntene, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health Hon. Selibe Mochoboroane, expressed that at the 75th Health Assembly, the World Health Organization Director General presented a proposal on strengthening the architecture for health emergency and pandemic preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR).
“The HEPR includes coherent National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) to drive preparedness, prevention and response to Public Health threats. Under the thematic area “Detect”, member states are expected to invest in workforce development and put in place FETPs or other applied epidemiology training programs. FETPs help build national, regional and local capabilities to stop diseases at the source,” she said.
Moreover, Ntene specified that “FETPs increase our ability to detect and respond to threats. In a world where the next outbreak is only a plane ride away, disease detectives help countries to identify and stop health threats close to the source, both those we anticipate and those we don’t expect. They address the severe worldwide shortage of skilled epidemiologists and build critical global health security capabilities by expanding their public health workforce.”
She indicated that this ceremony marked the country’s commitment to investing in the public health workforce which has the capacity to prevent and control health threats that may face the country, continent and the entire world.
She congratulated the graduates and urged them to continue applying the knowledge and skills they have gained through the training.
One of the graduates, Dr. Lebohang Sao expressed gratitude and said the knowledge they gained will go a long way in helping them strengthen public health surveillance.
Another graduate, Nurse Mahali Motsie said the training was important as they among others, learnt data management thus will guide and help them make informed decisions in their line of work.
Frontliners armed to respond to public health threats
Liapeng Raliengoane
MASERU – Last Friday saw the 15 Frontline Field Epidemiologists graduate from the Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) meant to drive preparedness, prevention and response to Public Health threats.
This 3rd cohort is the first product of Lesotho FETP, trained by Lesotho Field Epidemiologists and local mentors through the support of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
In her opening remarks, Dr. Tšepang Lekhela revealed that this was the 3rd cohort of Frontliners but the 1st cohort to receive training from Lesotho saying the other two cohorts were trained in South Africa.
“Today, we are celebrating the products of our own field training. This training capacitates us on improving the surveillance systems. 25% time is spent in the classroom and 75% in the field,” she highlighted.
The Representative of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) Dr. Herbert Kazoora said EFENET is supporting over 38 African countries and in this case supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) Lesotho to implement this Field Epidemiology Training program.
He added that this program is meant for countries to have self-reliant front line workers. “The training has ended but the journey starts today.”
The United States CDC Deputy Country Director Sherene Cora disclosed that the Lesotho program started in 2017 and this program is a demonstration of the United States government’s commitment to helping Lesotho reach greater heights.
MoH Principal Secretary (PS) ‘Maneo Ntene, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health Hon. Selibe Mochoboroane, expressed that at the 75th Health Assembly, the World Health Organization Director General presented a proposal on strengthening the architecture for health emergency and pandemic preparedness, response and resilience (HEPR).
“The HEPR includes coherent National Action Plans for Health Security (NAPHS) to drive preparedness, prevention and response to Public Health threats. Under the thematic area “Detect”, member states are expected to invest in workforce development and put in place FETPs or other applied epidemiology training programs. FETPs help build national, regional and local capabilities to stop diseases at the source,” she said.
Moreover, Ntene specified that “FETPs increase our ability to detect and respond to threats. In a world where the next outbreak is only a plane ride away, disease detectives help countries to identify and stop health threats close to the source, both those we anticipate and those we don’t expect. They address the severe worldwide shortage of skilled epidemiologists and build critical global health security capabilities by expanding their public health workforce.”
She indicated that this ceremony marked the country’s commitment to investing in the public health workforce which has the capacity to prevent and control health threats that may face the country, continent and the entire world.
She congratulated the graduates and urged them to continue applying the knowledge and skills they have gained through the training.
One of the graduates, Dr. Lebohang Sao expressed gratitude and said the knowledge they gained will go a long way in helping them strengthen public health surveillance.
Another graduate, Nurse Mahali Motsie said the training was important as they among others, learnt data management thus will guide and help them make informed decisions in their line of work.