Ethiopian Public Health Institute | የኢትዮጵያ የሕብረተሰብ ጤና ኢንስቲትዩት

Ethiopia Reviews 15 Years of Field Epidemiology Training as Country Marks World Field Epidemiology Day ------------------------------- Ethiopia has marked World Field Epidemiology Day with the dissemination of a 15-year impact evaluation of the Ethiopian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (EFELTP), highlighting the program’s contribution to strengthening the country’s capacity to detect, investigate and respond to public health emergencies. The national event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI). It brought together senior government officials, representatives of regional health bureaus, academic institutions and international development partners to review the program’s implementation from 2009 to 2024 and discuss priorities for its next phase. The event also provided an opportunity to recognize the contribution of field epidemiologists working across Ethiopia and examine measures to further strengthen the country’s public health security. State Minister of Health Dr. Dereje Duguma said the EFELTP has played an important role in developing Ethiopia’s public health workforce, with more than 800 field epidemiology specialists graduating from the program and serving within the national health system. Dr. Dereje emphasized the need to build a proactive and agile health system capable of detecting disease threats at an early stage, conducting field investigations and implementing timely interventions. He identified the expansion of digital disease surveillance, improved integration of health data and sustainable financing as key priorities for strengthening Ethiopia’s health security architecture. Dr. Getachew Tollera, Deputy Director General of EPHI, underscored the role of field epidemiologists in responding to disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. He reaffirmed EPHI’s commitment to expanding field epidemiology training capacity, strengthening regional field bases and improving the integration of laboratory networks with field-based surveillance systems across the country. Ato Assegid Samuel, Lead Executive Officer of the Human Resources Health Development and Innovation (HR HDI) Directorate Director of the Ministry of Health and EFELTP Program, said the 15-year milestone provided an opportunity to assess the program’s achievements, identify remaining gaps and determine whether its current approach continues to respond to the evolving needs of Ethiopia’s health sector. Dr. Ebba Mijena, CEO of Higher Education Academic Affairs at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the importance of collaboration between the education and health sectors in developing Ethiopia’s public health workforce. And mentioned the ongoing higher education reforms, including greater autonomy for public universities, provide an opportunity to strengthen specialized and research-oriented training aligned with national public health priorities. Representatives of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Resolve to Save Lives also delivered keynote addresses, highlighting technical collaboration and continued support for strengthening Ethiopia’s field epidemiology capacity. The event featured the presentation of the EFELTP Impact Evaluation Results Evidence Brief, 2009–2024, alongside a poster exhibition showcasing field investigations and scientific contributions by program participants and alumni. Stakeholder panel discussions also examined lessons from the program’s first 15 years and priorities for its future development. The gathering concluded with commitments from the Ministry of Health, EPHI, Ministry of Education and partner organizations to advance several priority areas, including expanding university-based field epidemiology training, strengthening digital disease surveillance, enhancing public health preparedness and pursuing international accreditation for Ethiopia’s field epidemiology programs.