Field epidemiology training programme
Field epidemiology training programme

Field epidemiology training programme in Viet Nam

The Viet Nam Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) was established in 2007 in collaboration with and support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). It aims to strengthen the national capacities for detection, investigation and response to emerging diseases and other public health events in line with WHO's Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) and the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).

The objectives of the programme are to (1) equip the staff working on preventive medicine services with essential skills and competencies for disease prevention and control; (2) enhance preventive medicine services at the local, provincial and national levels; and (3) strengthen systems for prevention, control and timely response to public health emergencies.

The program offers two training modalities, including field epidemiology short courses (three-week courses for preventive medicine staff and three-month courses for human and animal health staff using One Health approach) and a two-year programme. By the end of 2018, approximately 670 individuals participated in the programme (both short and long courses). Viet Nam FETP fellows have participated in nearly 100 outbreak investigations, contributed to more than 20 publications in peer-review journals, almost 100 oral and poster presentation in domestic and international scientific conferences, and conducted various operational studies.

During FETP’s first 10 years of implementation in Viet Nam, two programme reviews were conducted, in 2010 and 2015. These reviews identified strengths, opportunities and areas for improvement, which helped inform the ongoing programme’s redirection focusing on revising short course training in order to meet the country’s need for epidemiologic workforce, at the same time strengthening on-site mentoring network, moving towards a sustainable field epidemiology training programme in Viet Nam.    

Technical links

Viet Nam FETP for outbreaks and emergencies

Viet Nam continues to face various disease outbreaks and public health events. Being located in Southeast Asia and becoming an increasingly important hub for travel and trade, Viet Nam remains a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases and public health threats entering the country from other parts of the world. The Viet Nam FETP aims to strengthen the country’s front line workforce by equipping them with professional epidemiological skills to respond to those threats.

Viet Nam FETP

The Viet Nam FETP was established in 2007 and is managed by the General Department of Preventive Medicine (GDPM) of the Ministry of Health (MOH). As of 2018, approximately 670 individuals have participated in the programme via both the short and long courses. The FETP fellows have participated in nearly 100 outbreak investigations, contributed to more than 20 publications in peer-review journals, almost 100 oral and poster presentation in domestic and international scientific conferences, and conducted various operational studies.

FETP sustainability in Viet Nam

WHO has been the leading technical agency in supporting the Ministry of Health to develop and sustain the FETP since the inception of the programme. WHO technical experts work in close collaboration with US CDC to provide programmatic and technical support to the programme, including strategic planning and promoting national ownership and long-term sustainability of field epidemiology training in Viet Nam.

FETP short courses

The programme is currently undergoing various changes focusing on strengthening short course training curriculum in order to meet the country’s demand for field epidemiologic workforce; at the same time creating a stronger network of onsite mentors.

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