Snapshot

There’s a few notable highlights for this month. The first version of FEiA’s technical reference guide has just been released. We welcome any feedback. We will continue developing this resource over time, including finalising several case studies to accompany the reference guide. Vanuatu is making headway with plans to establish their own intermediate field epidemiology training program (FETP). The team recently facilitated a Theory of Change workshop in Port Vila (see update below). PNG’s One Health Frontline FETP continues to expand, with the National Capital District & Morobe Province both commencing their programs.

Reference Guide for Field Epidemiologists

FEiA is excited to release its reference guide for field epidemiologists that covers key field epidemiology concepts! While this reference guide was developed for the fellows, faculty and alumni of the FETPs in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, we’re confident it will be of help to FETPs around the world. It contains definitions and worked examples of key field epidemiology concepts such as surveillance, outbreak investigation and communicable disease control.

We are currently developing a series of case studies as a companion to the reference guide. These will be out soon; stay tuned! We are also working on an online version of the reference guide.  

The reference guide is available for download by clicking on the button below.

Intermediate FETP Training in Vanuatu

Vanuatu FETP participants, Aleesha Kalulu and Leiwia Dick, completing a workshop activity

In last month’s newsletter we mentioned that the next Cohort of FETPNG was poised to kickstart their training. Unfortunately, no sooner had our last email gone to press that we learnt that due to unforeseen events Cohort 9 training in PNG would need to be postponed. With two Vanuatu fellows scheduled to join the training in Papua New Guinea, the team adapted and provided training in Vanuatu instead. FEiA epidemiologist Dr Megge Miller led the training in Port Vila. The training was completed last week, and now the Vanuatu fellows – Aleesha Kalulu and Leiwia Dick – are ready to commence their field projects.

As the Senior Vaccine Surveillance Officer at the Ministry of Health’s Surveillance Unit, Aleesha’s project will focus on surveillance and public health response to suspected measles cases. Leiwia, as a Laboratory Officer at the Vila Central Hospital Laboratory, is focusing her project on antenatal screening for Hepatitis B. 

For Workshop 2, the fellows from Vanuatu and Timor-Leste will come together for joint training in September. We also hope to engage faculty from PNG and Solomon Islands to support the teaching and share practical lessons from the field.

Vanuatu Theory of Change Workshops

As Vanuatu moves forward with its plans to establish a national FETP, FEiA facilitated a two-day Theory of Change workshop from June 6-7 with stakeholders from across Vanuatu’s health system. The purpose of the workshop was to identify the long-term vision for change that the FETP would contribute to, and to create an implementation strategy map of what needs to occur for the FETP to reach the vision for change. 

Participants from five of Vanuatu’s six Provinces were present at the workshop, as well as a range of stakeholders from the Ministry of Health and other leading health agencies. A total of 27 participants contributed across the two days. Results of the workshop are being finalised with partners from the Ministry of Health and will be shared in future FEiA updates.

One Health Frontline FETP Workshop 1 Completed in Morobe

Attendees at the One Health Frontline FETP Morobe Workshop 1

19 participants took part in the inaugural workshop of the One Health Frontline FETP in Lae, Morobe Province. The workshop included engaging conversations among fellows from diverse fields, including public health, animal health, plant health, and environment and conservation. The participants gained valuable insights on the significance of collaboration in tackling the diverse One Health challenges prevalent in Papua New Guinea.

One Health Frontline FETP Workshop 1 Completed in PNG’s National Capital District

19 Fellows have just completed the first One Health Frontline FETP Workshop held in the National Capital District (NCD), Papua New Guinea. NCD Provincial Health Authority Representative, Dr. Rose Morre, was the guest speaker at the opening of the workshop. The workshop was a great success; fellows are now looking forward to completing Workshop 2, currently scheduled for July, 2023. NCD is the fourth province to commence the One Health Frontline FETP.

Insights from a Rapid Response Training Program Participant

Dr. Fiona Kupe, a participant in the Rapid Response Team training program, shares her experience and learnings from the five-day competency-based training. Read how participants tackled a fictitious province's outbreak through teamwork and investigation.

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are multidisciplinary teams trained to quickly deploy to investigate and respond to acute public health threats.

Learn more about Rapid Response Training of Papua New Guinea.

Upcoming

• Frontline FETP, Morobe, Workshop 2 -  PNG (June 2023)

• Intermediate FETP Cohort 8, Workshop 3 - PNG (June 2023)

• Sols FETP Cohort 2, Workshop 3 - Solomon Islands (July 2023)

• Intermediate FETP Timor Leste/Vanuatu Workshop 2 (Sep 2023)

Photo of the Month

One Health Frontline FETP Workshop Participants from the National Capital District, PNG

Free Online Training for Field Epidemiologists

We currently have three eLearning courses available: Excel Fundamentals for Field Epis, Rapid Response Team Training and Module 1 of a 3-Module surveillance course, Basics of Public Health Surveillance (stay tuned for Modules 2 and 3, currently under development). Explore the courses by clicking on the buttons below.

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