Snapshot

Two FETP graduations this month; the second Sols intermediate FETP cohort and a Frontline FETP cohort from the National Capital District in Papua New Guinea. It’s great to see the number of graduates climbing month by month. A team from FEiA Australia and PNG joined forces to conduct an internal evaluation of the impact of the Frontline, Intermediate and Advanced FETPs. The information sharing session in Solomon Islands is an important first step in engaging with senior level management to ensure the best use of graduates and utilisation of the evidence they generate.

Sols FETP: Cohort 2 Graduates! 🥳

Caption: the 6 graduating fellows of Sols FETP Cohort 2

Congratulations to Cohort 2 of Sols FETP, who graduated on August 18. A total of six fellows graduated, including one from Cohort 1. The award for best public health intervention went to a fellow whose project strengthened laboratory quality assurance processes in a microbiology laboratory, which will enable that site to contribute to anti-microbial resistance surveillance in the future. Other successful interventions led to better ascertainment of cases in the sentinel syndromic surveillance system, improved compliance in hand hygiene in a clinical setting, and improved antenatal care. Whilst four fellows did not make it to the final workshop, it is hoped that they will graduate with Cohort 3. Most of the final workshop was delivered by the junior faculty, who are all graduates from Cohort 1.

Information Sharing Session in Solomon Islands

Caption: Attendees at the Information Sharing Session in Solomon Islands

Following the graduation of Cohort 2, there was an Information Sharing Session with Provincial Health Directors, Directors of Nursing and Training Officers. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the supports that fellows’ workplaces require during the training in Sols FETP and how to best utilise the skills of the graduates to ensure the impacts are felt across the health system.

Frontline FETP: NCD Workshop 3 & Graduation

Caption: Graduating cohort from the National Capital District Frontline FETP, PNG

We are happy to announce that the 4th cohort of the One Health Frontline FETP in PNG has completed their training. The NCD fellows celebrated their graduation at the end of the third workshop on the 25th of August. Congratulations to NCD and all PNG Frontline graduates!

FEiA Leads Impact Evaluation Trip in PNG

Caption: (Top Left) Evaluation Team C on a field visit in East Sepik. (Top Right) Team B on a flight to Vanimo. (Bottom Left) Team B boarding a flight. (Bottom Right) Team A conducting an interview in West New Britain.

FEiA has been leading an impact evaluation of Papua New Guinea's Frontline, Intermediate, and Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs). In late September, three evaluation teams interviewed graduates, line managers, and stakeholders from six provinces, covering all four regions of Papua New Guinea. A qualitative research expert from PNG's Institute of Medical Research and FEiA provided training to the teams prior to their deployment. These interviews will complement an online survey that will be administered to all graduates.

The purpose of this evaluation is to document the translation of FETP knowledge and skills into action and to assess the enablers and barriers to impact. The team will also seek advice on how the program can be improved in the future, including support for graduates.

This evaluation has used an impact evaluation framework developed by FEiA for FETPs globally. The framework is also being used to guide an impact evaluation of the Canadian Field Epidemiology Training Program. FEiA hopes to publish the framework in the near future.

Upcoming

• Intermediate FETP Timor Leste/Vanuatu Workshop 2 - end of Sep, 2023

Photo of the Month

Caption: Morobe One Health Team attending to an outbreak in a remote region of the Province

Free Online Training for Field Epidemiologists

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

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