Ministry of Health conducts Field Epidemiology Training Program

A third cohort will embark on a Basic Level Course in Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Belize.

The objective of the program is to build capacity for frontline responders in the detection, surveillance, response, analysis and prevention associated with high priority public health problems. Additionally, it will help to improve on the modeling and measuring of diseases in the country and also in the presentation of that data.

It is an applied program administered by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to strengthen the technical leadership of Epidemiologists, who work directly with outbreak investigation and surveillance events in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic.

Field Epidemiology Training Programs have been established in 28 countries as extensions of the Epidemic Intelligence Service model. A total of 20 health professionals have since graduated and benefited from the Basic Module Training and 4 from the Advance Module since 2009.

The Training Program is a collaborative effort among various organizations: Ministry of Health (MOH), the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Prevention's Regional Office in Central America and Panama (CDC-CAP), Training

Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) in Collaboration with Naval Medical Research Unit 6 (NAMRU).

Participants will include Medical Officers of the Ministry of Health and from the Belize Defence Force, Public Health Inspectors, Public Health Nurses and Laboratory Technicians. Facilitators for the workshop are trained MOH Public Health Staff.

This round of the training is funded by NAMRU-6 through TEPHINET for military medical staff and health personnel. The training will be launched with an official opening on February 27th at the ICT Center in Belmopan, beginning at 8:30 am.

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