Cameroon Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program
Background
The Cameroon Field Epidemiology Training Program (CAFETP) is implemented by the Department for the Control of Diseases, Epidemics, and Pandemics (DLMEP) at the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, with technical support from the United States Government, through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). To ensure institutionalization and proper coordination and provision of technical oversight, CAFETP functions thanks to the presence of high-level institutions and functioning committees set aside, notably: CAFETP aims to strengthen human and animal health personnel in epidemiological surveillance. Specifically, this program capacitates personnel to: • Respond to emergencies and public health events; • Carry out public health activities linked to epidemiological surveillance; • Improve the quality of surveillance of diseases; • Improve communication to the scientific community for decision/policy-making and also creates a national and sub-regional epidemiological network. The two-year program is a sub-regional program regrouping trainees (residents) since 2010 in both the animal and human health sectors from Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad (the Democratic Republic of Congo was once part of this program before becoming an autonomous program). The Intermediate FETP was officially launched in May 2021 to train central, regional and operational level participants in epidemiological surveillance in a nine- to the 12-month training period. The Frontline or ‘basic’ FETP was officially launched in Cameroon in March 2016 and has trained more than 900 surveillance staff from the peripheral level of the health system.
Levels: Frontline, Intermediate, Advanced
Contact
Dr. Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.