The Indian Ocean Commission, (COI), in collaboration with its partners launches its first (FETP-Frontline training) Frontline Epidemiology Training Program in Seychelles, this was held at the backstage Restaurant and Lounge, Roche Caiman on the 22nd to the 26th January 2024. This has been the first block of training in a series, leading to the Diploma. Twenty professionals from Seychelles were selected to participate based on strict criteria by the Mauritius Institute. These were 10 professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Animal Health organization and 10 professionals from the Ministry of Health, Human Health organization. The spirit of “One Health” collaboration between the two Ministries. Present to launch the training was the Personal Secretary of the Agriculture Department and the stakeholders from the Mauritius Health Institute, also representatives from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) who were there also to facilitate the training program.
The FETP-Frontline goals are mainly to improve the MOH and MACCE epidemiological capacity, particularly at the district level, through;
- strengthening of public and animal health surveillance,
- improved investigation and response,
- more effective communication,
- improved availability and use of data for decision-making.
The first training sessions has shared the following learning objectives whereby by the end of the workshop, participants were able to;
- collect and summarize / review surveillance data regularly,
- monitor timeliness, completeness, and data quality of surveillance data,
- summarize data by time, place, and person,
- write a surveillance summary report,
- conduct case investigations.
The aim of the general training is to equip the participants with all the necessary skills to prevent, detect, response to animal and public health diseases. (FETP), provide training around the world to field epidemiologists or “disease detectives” giving them necessary skills to collect, analyze, and interpret data and contribute to evidence-based decisions. These trained “disease detectives” will be more expertise on how to better investigate and apply their knowledge to prevent sickness outbreak. They will also be more educated on how to communicate crucial information about health problems in a community, including infectious and non-communicable diseases and environmental hazards. The facilitators expect to be back in Seychelles for the continuous phase of the training program soon.
The training is funded by COI which is the Intergovernmental organization that links the African Indian ocean nations. Upon completion of the diploma, thereafter participants can follow the master program.