Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program: Critical Role in National and Regional Capacity Building

Abstract

Field Epidemiology Training Programs (FETPs) are 2-year training programs in applied epidemiology, established with the purpose of increasing a country’s capacity within the public health workforce to detect and respond to health threats and develop internal expertise in field epidemiology. The Jordan Ministry of Health, in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, started the Jordan FETP (J-FETP) in 1998. Since then, it has achieved a high standard of success and has been established as a model for FETPs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Here we describe the J-FETP, its role in building the epidemiologic capacity of Jordan’s public health workforce, and its activities and achievements, which have grown the program to be self-sustaining within the Jordan Ministry of Health. Since its inception, the program’s residents and graduates have assisted the country to improve its surveillance systems, including revising the mortality surveillance policy, implementing the use of electronic data reporting, investigating outbreaks at national and regional levels, contributing to noncommunicable disease research and surveillance, and responding to regional emergencies and disasters. J-FETP’s structure and systems of support from the Jordan Ministry of Health and local, regional, and international partners have contributed to the success and sustainability of the J-FETP. The J-FETP has contributed significantly to improvements in surveillance systems, control of infectious diseases, outbreak investigations, and availability of reliable morbidity and mortality data in Jordan. Moreover, the program has supported public health and epidemiology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Best practices of the J-FETP can be applied to FETPs throughout the world.

Addressing the workforce capacity for public health surveillance through field epidemiology and laboratory training program: the need for balanced enhanced skill mix and distribution, a case study from Tanzania

“…Most of TFELTP trainees were observed to be clinicians, laboratory scientists and environmental health officers. Similar tendency has been seen in other FETPs including Kenya [ 26 ], Jordan [ 27 ], India [ 7 ] and many more including EIS [ 11 ]. Nevertheless, effective implementation of surveillance activities requires strength in all surveillance components including detection, diagnosis, treatment, laboratory investigation and reporting, utilizing the information (for evidence-based decision) [ 23 ], which demand expertise from other disciplines.…”

Awareness and Preparedness of Field Epidemiology Training Program Graduates to Respond to COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Cross-Sectional Study

“…In the EMR, FETP residents and graduates have contributed significantly to improvements in surveillance systems, control of infectious diseases, and outbreak investigations [ 8 ] and have been instrumental in controlling many past epidemics including Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) [ 9 , 10 ] and dengue fever outbreak [ 11 ]. During the current emergency, the FETP graduates played a key role in actions responding to COVID-19 including developing preparedness plans, supporting and evaluating the surveillance system to identify the gaps and needs, assessing the needs in health facilities for isolation rooms, case investigations, points of entry/arrivals screening and follow-up, quarantine and isolation protocols, transferring cases, risk communication, and training on infection control.…”

Evaluation of Field Epidemiology Training Programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Multi-country Study

“…Their impact can be most apparent in situations of con ict and crises that disrupt public health systems and especially within the current shortage of resources. Several examples have clearly showed the success of FETP in responding to emergencies and disasters (8)(9)(10)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, FETP graduates tackled numerous issues, including but not limited to, to redesigning the system to enable simultaneous real-time electronic reporting of suspected and con rmed cases to public health professionals who needed to take essential control and preventive actions on new cases (14).…”

“…Several examples have clearly showed the success of FETP in responding to emergencies and disasters (8)(9)(10)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). During the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in 2014 in Saudi Arabia, FETP graduates tackled numerous issues, including but not limited to, to redesigning the system to enable simultaneous real-time electronic reporting of suspected and con rmed cases to public health professionals who needed to take essential control and preventive actions on new cases (14). FETP graduates are working nowadays in different ways to ght COVID-19 pandemic as they are actively participating in surveillance and screening at airports and other ports of entry, developing communication materials and guidelines and sharing information to health professionals and to the public (16).…”

“…FETP graduates are working nowadays in different ways to ght COVID-19 pandemic as they are actively participating in surveillance and screening at airports and other ports of entry, developing communication materials and guidelines and sharing information to health professionals and to the public (16). FETPs in the EMR showed success in building the epidemiologic capacity for public health workforce, improving countries' surveillance systems, and strengthening the health systems (14,19).…”