NPHIL Trains More Field Epidemiologists for Surveillance and Outbreak Response

MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has trained nine additional field epidemiologists from around the country at the intermediate level to help Liberia build critical national and global health capabilities. The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) was sponsored by the US CDC and the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET).

These nine additional field epidemiologists constitute a valuable addition to the number already trained at NPHIL since 2017 to monitor and conduct surveillance, detect diseases, and respond to outbreaks and other public health emergencies.

This comes at a time when NPHIL is responding to sporadic cases of Mpox around the country. An Mpox Incidence Management System was launched several weeks ago to mobilize resources and coordinate the response.

Taking place over the past several months, the training program continues to produce skilled epidemiologists for the public health workforce and has strengthened the surveillance systems as well as the response to public health threats.

“This is an addition of more Disease Detectives to the capability for NPHIL to surveil, respond to, and manage disease outbreaks,” said Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, NPHIL’s Director General, who is a biomedical scientist and inventor. “Thanks to the US CDC and AFENET for sponsoring and facilitating the training,” he added.

Dr. Peter Adewuyi, the Country Director of the African Field Epidemiology Training Program (AFENET), and Claudette Grant, Assistant Director of the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Liberia Office, also admonished graduates to use their training to benefit the country’s public health system. WHO Representative Tamba Saah Alpha and FETP Training Coordinator Lilly Sanvee-Bleebo also encouraged the graduates to be dedicated to their duties.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nyan, who is Chairman of the Mpox National Incident Management System (IMS), has advised the population to remain calm, wash or sanitize their hands, avoid contact with suspected persons and animals, and practice safe and protected sexual behavior. The communities around the country are also advised to report suspected cases of Mpox to the nearest health facilities and authorities.