By Politico staff writer
Thirty-five Sierra Leoneans on the 29th of August 2022 graduated as Disease Detectives from Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), according to a Press Statement from the United States Embassy in Freetown.
The training which was done by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) in collaboration with the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was organized in a bid to increase the number of public health leaders in the country.
These FETP graduates were trained as disease detectives, empowering them with the knowledge to investigate outbreaks of diseases and find ways to prevent future outbreaks.
With the advent of new sub-variants of COVID-19 together with the other global health threats such as monkeypox, prevention and control are considered to be more relevant now than ever. The training was organized to benefit not only the trainees but the country and other nations.
The training was conducted on Lassa Fever, Ebola, Anthrax, Monkeypox, Measles, COVID-19, and Polio, amongst many others.
The United States Ambassador David Reimer in his statement said: “The U.S. government, through CDC, is committed to supporting impactful programs like FETP in Sierra Leone. This is a mission both of our governments share, and the Government of Sierra Leone has shown real leadership in establishing and building disease surveillance capacity at all levels.”
Reimer noted that the FETP is modeled with the United States’ own best practices.
Previous participants of a similar program are currently investigating a case of food poisoning in Kenema. The new graduates are to join a notable network of over 300 other FETP graduates and are expected to serve as leaders and mentors for future beneficiaries of such training.
The graduation was honored by Ambassador Reimer and officials from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
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