Updates from Zimbabwe

• The Zimbabwe FETP held its first MPH monthly conference for 2010 at the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare boardroom on 29th January. It was well attended by both part-time and full time trainees. A total of fifty people were present, including the Permanent Secretary of Health, Brigadier General Dr. Gerald Gwinji and  two field supervisors. Nine presentations were made: 6 results and 3 proposals.
  
  
• Two research papers were accepted for publication during the period under review. The first paper entitled ‘Overcoming Nationwide Challenges: The Need for Innovative Strategies to Improve Immunization Coverage in Rural Zimbabwe’ authored by Addmore Chadambuka et al was accepted for publication in the Disaster Studies, Policy and Management Journal. The second paper by Notion Gombe et al, entitled ‘Evaluation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Strategy Implementation in Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe' was accepted for publication in the South African Journal of Child Health (SAJCH).
  
  
• The MPH Part 1 trainees are into their second module (Epidemiology, Demography and Field Research) of the academic modules. Of the 16 trainees that had been accepted for the MPH course, only 14 turned up. Of these nine are doctors, three are Environmental Health Officers, one Occupational Therapist, and one Pharmacist.

Ghana updates

• Three of the second cohort residents made presentations on their field activities during the maiden edition of the monthly FELTP Stakeholders’ Dissemination Seminar held at the Disease Surveillance Department of Ghana Health Services, Korle Bu on Wednesday, 3 January 2010. Stakeholders in attendance included WHO, CDC, Ghana Health Service Programs, Veterinary Service Directorate and Public Health Reference Lab officers. The topics presented were: 
  
  • Cross-Border Rabies Outbreak in the Upper-East Region, Ghana 2009
  • Review of HIV/AIDS Data at the National Public Health Reference Lab, Accra
  • Evaluation of the Meningitis Surveillance System with Focus on Kasena Nakana District, Ghana
    
    
• Two of the second cohort residents presented their first research proposals on 2 February 2010, during the School of Public Research Seminar with CDC representatives in attendance. Miss Gifty Boateng, made a presentation on ‘Prevalence and Distribution of Human Papillomavirus Genotypes Among Women in North Tongu District, Ghana’, while Dr. Reuben Tetteh’s presentation was titled ‘Prevalence of Hepatitis E  Viral infection in swine and their Human  Handlers in Accra Metropolitan Area’’.
  
  
• The third cohort residents attended a two week training (25 January - 5 February 2010)  facilitated by Dr. Nelson Adekoya from CDC Atlanta.  He gave lectures on Public Health Surveillance and Evaluation, Principles of Outbreak Investigation, Scientific Publication, Using Surveillance Data for Health Assessment and Strategic Plan for Communicable Disease Surveillance. After each topic, participants were given an opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge through  exercises/core studies.
  
  
• The GFELTP Resident Advisor's field visits to mentor residents at field sites in Greater Accra, Brong-Ahafo, Eastern, Central, Volta and Upper-West regions of Ghana continue till 11 February 2010.
  
  
• The evaluation of the first CDC-SMDP supported short course on Improving Management for Public Health Intervention (IMPHI course) was concluded on 4 February 2010. The evaluation was performed by Dr. Dennis and Dr. Petra Vallila–Buchman from CDC Atlanta.
  
  
• The GFELTP Stop AI team held a planning meeting for training regional multidisciplinary response teams.
  
  
• Four of the second cohort residents submitted abstracts for the upcoming Epidemiology Intelligence Service (EIS) conference in Atlanta.



Ms.  Richael  Mills  presenting her abstract   at  the GFELTP Dissemination Seminar for Stakeholders at Health Promotion Auditorium, Korle – Bu, Ghana. (Inset: Dr. Chima Ohuabonwo)

Participants from CDC, the School of Public Health,Veterinary Service Department, National Public Health Reference Laboratory at the GFELTP Dissemination Seminar for Stakeholder at Health Promotion Auditorium, Korle – Bu, Ghana. 

Dr. Paul Polkuu presenting his abstract on crossborder rabies outbreak  at  the GFELTP Dissemination Seminar for Stakeholders. 

• Ms. Richael Mills, one of the residents in the second Cohort of M .Phil in Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control Programme will be presenting her first research proposal seminar on Thursday, 11 February 2010 at School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon.

Updates from Nigeria

• Cohort 1 residents are in the second week of their Cluster 3 training which began on 25 January 2010. This cluster covers special topics in public health, advanced epidemiology, economic analysis, laboratory policy, principles of quality assurance and laboratory management. The training is being conducted in Abuja, and the facilitators have been drawn from Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ibadan, CDC Nigeria, and CDC Atlanta. There will also be guest speakers from the Federal Ministry of Health and other development partners. 
   
• Dr. Peter Nsubuga, Branch Chief of the Capacity Development Branch, Division of Global Public Health Capacity Development at CDC Atlanta visited the program from 1–6 February 2010. Dr. Nsubuga conducted lectures on advanced epidemiology and data analysis demonstrations.
  
  


Dr. Peter Nsubuga (4^th on the front row) with cohort 1 residents of the Nigeria program

• During the same period, Dr. Carol Rubin and Ms. Millie Trotter from the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases visited the program. Dr. Nsubuga, Dr. Rubin, and Ms. Trotter reviewed the progress of the NFELTP and made suggestions on how to improve the program.
  
  
  

• The program Director, Dr. Henry Akpan and the Resident Advisor, Dr. Patrick Nguku, participated in a planning meeting for a proposed regional IDSR meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 January 2010. The meeting was organized by the Nigerian Academy of Science. The regional IDSR meeting is scheduled for August 2010.

Tanzania updates

• Residents in the first cohort have gone to the field sites in the following regions within the country: Mwanza, Arusha, Kigoma, Tanga, Mbeya, Dodoma ,Zanzibar and Lindi. They are expected to remain in their field sites until June 2010.
  
  

• Dr. Obinna Oleribe (Epidemiology Resident Advisor) will be in Lindi and Mtwara regions from   9-12 February 2010, supervising the short course residents.

Updates from Uganda

• Two trainees and one faculty of the Uganda Program are part of the investigation team which travelled to Koboko District, North Eastern Uganda to carry out investigations of a suspected Meningitis outbreak.

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Updates from the Secretariat

• Ms. Suzan McQueen from CDC Tanzania visited the AFENET Secretariat last week. She had discussions with the AFENET management team about possible areas of collaboration between AFENET and the Tanzania FELTP. Ms. McQueen also visited Kawempe Health Centre, one of the HIV testing sites where AFENET is piloting the HIV Quality Assurance program using Dry Tube Samples (DTS).  

(L-R) Dr. Sheba N. Gitta, Ms. Susan McQueen, Mr. David Mukanga, Mr. Yosiah Oloo during Ms. McQueen’s visit to the AFENET Secretariat

• Representatives from the US Department of Defense visited the AFENET Secretariat on 8 February 2010, and had a meeting with AFENET‘s  technical team to gain a better understanding of AFENET’s work in the areas of public health training and disease surveillance.  

                                      AFENET staff with officials from the US Department of Defense

             AFENET staff and officials from the US Department of Defense during the meeting at the Secretariat