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Residents of the second cohort completed the second module of their training which was on Epidemiology, Demography and Field Research. The module focused on the following topics: Introduction to Epidemiology, Study Designs, Measures of disease frequency, association and impact, Central Tendency and Dispersion, Screening, Surveillance, Questionnaire Design and Statistical Analysis in Epi Info. The lectures were conducted by Dr. Mufuta Tshimanga, Dr. Gerald Shambira, Mr. Notion Gombe, Mr. Addmore Chadambuka, Dr. Stanley Midzi from World Health Organization, and staff from the University of Zimbabwe’s Geography and Population Studies Department.
Residents of the Zimbabwe FETP are spearheading investigations into measles outbreaks in Manicaland, Matabeleland and Mashonaland Central Provinces. The investigations which are focusing on risk factor analysis started in October 2009 after the first measles outbreak was reported in Manicaland. Latest information on the current measles outbreak in Makoni District in Manicaland indicates that there have been 24 deaths and 450 children have been treated for measles in this province alone. Since the first outbreak, 1351 cases and 50 deaths have been reported throughout the country. In an effort to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and its partners including UNICEF and WHO, have embarked on an aggressive vaccination campaign to avert further deaths. Preliminary results indicate that the measles outbreak has been linked to the children of members of the apostolic sect who are against immunization of their offspring for any childhood illness as it is against the dictates of their religion.
FETP residents together with staff of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare are also leading investigations to establish factors associated with malaria outbreaks in Matabeleland North and Mashonaland Central Provinces. So far, 139 confirmed cases and one death have been reported in Matabeleland North Province while 782 cases and four deaths were reported in Mashonaland Central Province. Throughout Zimbabwe, 19,226 malaria cases and 27 deaths have been reported. It is not yet certain what sparked off the outbreak but the affected areas are malaria endemic zones where malaria outbreaks have always been reported.

Kenya

On 4February 2010, residents of Cohort 6 presented findings of cholera investigations which they conducted in Nairobi and Turkana Districts to officials from the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation. The purpose of the investigations was to assess the knowledge and practice towards cholera among the community members and health workers, as well as determine the magnitude of cholera outbreaks in Kenya in 2009.

Kenya FELTP’s Laboratory Coordinator, Mr. Ahmed Abade, participated in a Training of Trainers and Mentors workshop on Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) from 1-12 February 2010 at the African Centre for Integrated Laboratory Training in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ghana

Three residents of the second cohort made presentations at the maiden National Level GFELTP Stakeholders’ Dissemination Seminar held on 3 February 2010 at the National Communication Centre of the Ghana Health Services. The presentations were:
- Report on the Cross Border Rabies Outbreak in the Upper-East Region, 2009
- Three-Year Review of HIV/AIDS Sero-Prevalence Data at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, Korle Bu-Ghana
- Report on the Evaluation of the Meningitis Surveillance System focusing on Asante Akim (a district in the Meningitis Belt of Africa)

The Seminar was attended by officials from CDC-Ghana, WHO-Ghana, AFENET, Veterinary Service Directorate (VSD)-Ghana, Ghana Health Service (GHS), Public Health Directorate and Disease Control Programs.

The second GFELTP Regional Stakeholders Dissemination Seminar was hosted by the Regional Veterinary Service Directorate in the Upper-West Region on 9 February 2010. The Seminar was attended by over 30 participants including representatives from the Veterinary Services Department (VSD), Ghana Health Service (GHS), WHO-Ghana, pig-farmers, butchers, and community members. During the Seminar, a veterinary resident from the second cohort made a presentation titled: ‘Cysticercosis: A Neglected but Important Zoonotic Disease in the Upper-West Region, Ghana’. The veterinary resident was invited to make his presentation again at the Annual Review Meeting of the GHS. Discussions following the presentation focused on the analysis of Cysticercosis and clinical epilepsy data in the region. As a result of deliberations during the Seminar, a joint VSD-GHS committee was formed to conduct a follow up study to include a community survey and plan for an intervention program.

Residents of the second and third cohorts are participating in investigations of two recent outbreaks in Ghana; an outbreak of a food-borne disease at a High School in Takoradi, Western Region and a Rabies outbreak in the Eastern Region.

The first GFELTP Advisory Committee Meeting for 2010 was held on 17 February 2010 to discuss recruitment plans for Cohort 4, GFELTP activity updates, and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between GFELTP and its partners.

A pre-course workshop on a new curriculum for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is to be piloted by GFELTP for veterinary residents during the week of 22 February 2010.

Tanzania

The Tanzania FELTP held a meeting for Regional Supervisors on 15 February 2010. The meeting was attended by officials from seven regions as well as Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) who were briefed on TFELTP’s activities and informed of their roles regarding supervision of residents currently on field placement. The half-day meeting also discussed challenges and issues of sustainability.
Two residents are currently investigating a Cholera outbreak in Arusha and a chemical poisoning outbreak in Lindi.
Dr. Janneth Mghamba is working with the Ministry of Health to resolve a chemical poisoning outbreak in Kigoma District.

Residents of the second cohort will make presentations on Surveillance System Evaluation on 19 February 2010 at MUHAS. Officials from MUHAS, CDC, and FELTP faculty will attend the presentations and will grade the trainees.

Uganda

Two trainees from the Makerere University School of Public Health (MUSPH) were part of a team of epidemiologists from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and MUSPH faculty who participated in an investigation of Menicoccal Meningitis in the West Nile region of the country. They visited Arua, Koboko, and Maracha districts. So far, there are 73 suspected cases in Maracha District. MoH and its partners will be carrying out an immunization exercise in four of the most affected sub-counties starting Monday 22 February 2010.

Updates from the Secretariat

On 18 February 2010, three officials from Northrop Grumman Corporation Information Systems- Mr. Timothy Baker, Ms. Nancy Nelson, and Dr. Rusty Roesch visited the AFENET Secretariat. The team had a meeting with Dr. Olivia Namusisi- Head of Technical Programs, Dr. Sheba N. Gitta- Head, Science and Public Affairs, and Mr. Ndlovu Nqobile- Scientist. The meeting discussed potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions which included: laboratory capacity development, strengthening surveillance systems, and issues of climate change. Northrop Grumman Corporation Information Systems is a leading global provider of advanced solutions that deliver timely, enabling information to where it’s needed most for its military, intelligence, civilian, state and local and commercial customers. Northrop Grumman is the largest contractor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Atlanta.

(L-R) Mr. Nqobile, Mr. Baker, Dr. Namusisi, Dr. Gitta, Ms. Nelson, and Dr. Roesch after the meeting at the AFENET Secretariat