Masters’ Programme in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with Specialization in Disease Outbreak and Epidemic Response in sub-Saharan Africa (MPHEBDOER)

Epidemic-prone diseases are a global public threat particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where there is a scarcity of skilled public health workforce.

The current COVID-19 pandemic in Africa has informed the urgent need for a critical mass of well-trained epidemiologists and biostatisticians to respond to disease outbreaks and epidemics.

The objective of the capacity building programme is to train a cohort of epidemiologists and biostatisticians across sub-Saharan Africa, who can collectively conduct routine surveillance, conduct public health research and respond timely to disease outbreaks.

These EPI Fellows (early to mid-career researchers) will enhance the public health workforce capacity in NPHISs and National Ministries of Health to enable them to respond to outbreaks promptly.

The Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics (EMS) University of Ibadan is well-positioned to provide competence-based training for Africans based on its 20-year track record of postgraduate training.

The proposed MPH Epidemiology and Biostatistics programme will be supported by consortium of academic and public health institutions, in order to facilitate a knowledge and competency-based training through a blended approach involving virtual and in-person modalities.

This home-grown training will result in lower cost, better retention of graduates in sub-Saharan Africa region, and an instructional focus and context that is relevant to each country.

The programme will be open to public health practitioners working in the NPHIs and National Ministries of Health, State Ministries of Health (SMoH).

Medical doctors, veterinarians and graduates in the health sciences (pharmacists, nurses, laboratorians and biostatisticians) will be eligible for the programme.

Selection of the EPI Fellows will be based on merit and relevant work experience with a due consideration for gender balance. The MPH programme will be in seven major packages.

This shall include: (i) Preparatory Activities (ii) Didactic Lectures (iii) Field Placements/Internship, (iv) Seminar Presentations, (v) Workshops/Short Courses (vi) Conferences and (vii) Final Report Submission. The proposed duration of the programme is 30 months.

On completion of the programme, the EPI Fellows are expected to: be skilled in infectious disease epidemiology concepts, have good research capacity in epidemiology and biostatistics, be prepared to analyze data and manage epidemic disease outbreaks, and produce forecasts and analytics to support public health decision making.

They should also have enhanced research capacity in poverty-related diseases and in clinical trials across Africa. The EPI fellows will commit to remain in Africa for a minimum of two years after completing their studies.