Training of Epidemiologists in Disease Outbreaks and Epidemic Response in sub-Saharan Africa (TEDOER)

Communicable diseases with epidemic potential contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality on the African continent.

The emergence of the novel, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic further worsens the already precarious burden of diseases on the continent.

The burden of these communicable diseases with epidemic potential has not been matched with increased well-trained field professionals including epidemiologists, and biostatisticians to effectively manage the public health outbreaks, or epidemics, leading to ill equipped public health systems.

The proposed Training of Epidemiologist in Disease Outbreaks and Epidemic Response in sub-Saharan African (TEDOER) seeks to contribute to the generation of critical mass of epidemiologists and biostatisticians and institutional research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa for disease outbreak and epidemic response.

This will be achieved through a 13-years existing field epidemiology and biostatistics competency-based training programme at University of Ghana with collaboration and support from partner institutions such as the Harvard University, Heidelberg University and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The 24 month program will lead to the award of Master of Philosophy degree in Field Epidemiology and Disease Control.

This degree shall be awarded to candidates who satisfy the following conditions within 2 calendar years (a) An accumulated minimum of 62 course credits (b) Two seminar presentations spanning two semesters (c) A successful defence of a thesis and field competency outputs. Case studies, didactic lectures, discussions, problem-solving approach are some of the teaching methods to be employed.

As part of their training, Epi Fellows will benefit from field practice in relevant district health directorates, disease programmes and Disease Surveillance Departments, where they will learn from well experienced experts in disease control and outbreak investigation.

Epi-Fellows will be expected to conduct ethically sound research that applies epidemiologic and biostatistics principles relevant in disease control. Participation in conferences and exchange programs will be encouraged. These activities will be facilitated by a team of Faculty and supervisors from the consortium.

A robust mentorship program will be offered to the Epi Fellows who will be selected through a transparent recruitment process.

In conclusion, 15 Epi fellows from across sub-Saharan Africa will be capacitated to deliver a comprehensive surveillance on infectious diseases, evaluation of health systems, analyse epidemiological data appropriately to inform policy and decision making, have acquired competent skills to early detect, investigate and respond adequately to outbreaks in their respective countries and contribute to a critical mass of epidemiologists and biostatisticians and institutional research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.