Cameroon Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program
Background
The Central African Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (CAFELTP) was officially established in October 2010 at the University of Yaoundé I, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. The participating countries include Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR) and Chad. The program emphasizes an applied field training and hands-on approach to learning, with only 25% of training taking place within the classroom. CAFETP was designed in order to strengthen the public health system of the Central African region and enhance its capacity to carry out effective disease surveillance, outbreak investigations and response.
The primary objectives of CAFELTP include:
• Developing leadership in public health;
• Providing epidemiological services;
• Educating and training public health professionals in epidemiology and laboratory sciences;
• Supporting public health laboratory services; and
• Providing technical support and advisory services to key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health.