On September 7, the world joined TEPHINET in celebrating the second annual World Field Epidemiology Day! The theme for this year’s campaign was Empowering Field Epidemiologists for Stronger Health Systems.
On social media, more than 1,360 #WorldFieldEpidemiologyDay posts (86% of them on Twitter) highlighting the work and impact of field epidemiologists reached a combined 35.9 million people.
11th TEPHINET Global Scientific Conference
In Panama, site of the 11th TEPHINET Global Scientific Conference happening this week, the Ministry of Health and Department of Sanitation led an event at Manzanillo International Terminal, one of the most important ports in Latin America, celebrating field epidemiologists’ response to the pandemic. TEPHINET Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Aamer Ikram was present to speak about the objectives of World Field Epidemiology Day and accept an award on behalf of TEPHINET.
Meanwhile, at the conference, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General for Surveillance and Health Emergency Intelligence at the World Health Organization (WHO), delivered a thought-provoking keynote speech, “An Opportunity to ‘Step Up’ Field Epidemiology.”
In a related blog for BMJ Global Health, Dr. Ihekweazu reflects on how FETPs can “step up” and take new responsibilities for health security.
Read his blog here: “An Opportunity to Step Up: World Field Epidemiology Day”
Afterwards, in keeping with this year’s campaign theme of empowerment, Dr. Emmanuel Agogo, Country Director for Nigeria at Resolve to Save Lives, led attendees on a journey to becoming better self-advocates through an interactive plenary session, “Yes, We Can! Epidemiologists Can Be Advocates Too!”
Global Events
In South Africa, FETP staff, residents, and alumni were joined by representatives from the University of Pretoria, WITS University, the U.S. CDC South Africa office, Gauteng Department of Health Public Health Directorate, and colleagues from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) to commemorate World Field Epidemiology Day. Residents, alumni, and partners of the FETP shared their field experiences and the contribution of FETPs to the health system in South Africa.
In Yemen, 100 attendees representing the FETP held a celebration at the Ministry of Public Health and Population, during which the FETP director presented the program’s achievements and challenges over the past decade. Afterwards, an FETP graduate presented his evaluation of the program, and a discussion followed on the sustainability of the program.
In Pakistan, Dr. Nadia Noreen, the Points of Entry Focal Person at the Directorate of Central Health Establishment hosted “Salute to Frontline Responders,” a public health talk and retreat for frontline responders and epidemiologists working across points of entry.
In Nepal, the South Asia Field Epidemiology and Technology Network (SAFETYNET) organized a celebration at the National Health Training Center chaired by the center's director and the FETP Nepal course director. Staff of the Ministry of Health, SAFETYNET, and WHO participated in the celebration.
In Afghanistan, the FETP held an event at the National Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The FETP director, the director of the Training Department of the Afghanistan National Public Health Institute, FETP technical staff, and alumni and residents joined the celebration. FETP alumni shared their success stories and how their FETP experiences changed their professional lives. The speeches focused on building the capacity of health staff to respond to health threats and emergencies.
In Australia, at the Australian National University, the Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) team, including the program director, staff, fellows and alumni, looked back and celebrated 31 years of impact.
Content from Partners
Partners around the world published original content in honor of World Field Epidemiology Day. See the list below. (Did we miss something? Email it to us at secretariat@tephinet.org.)
Field Epidemiology in Action: Each week for six weeks leading up to World Field Epidemiology Day, Field Epidemiology in Action published a blog featuring stories of local disease detectives. Read them all here. The group also produced a video, "We Are Responding and Rebuilding" (see right).
Eurosurveillance: "World Field Epidemiology Day 2022: Empowering field epidemiologists to strengthen health systems’ preparedness and response to public health threats"
Australasian Epidemiological Association: "World Field Epidemiology Day 2022"
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "World Field Epi Day--September 7"
Government of Canada: "A First Hand Look Into Being a Field Epidemiologist"
African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET): "Spotlighting the AFENET Corps of Disease Detectives on this World Field Epidemiology Day"
The Pacific Community (SPC): "World Field Epidemiology Day: Epidemiology programme in the Pacific strengthening health interventions"
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): "Postcards from the field" with Daniela Michlmayr (EUPHEM fellow), Sonia Dhaouadi (MediPIET fellow), Joaquin Baruch (EPIET fellow), and Dorothee Obach (EPIET fellow)
Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP) Alumni Association: The president of the GFELTP alumni association appeared on local television to raise awareness of field epidemiology. Watch the segment here.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine: "A conversation with epidemiologists responding to outbreaks with the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team"
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Chennai: ICMR produced a video, "22 years of FETP at ICMR" (see below).
22 years of FETP at ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology
Finally, don't miss our own stories of empowerment, submitted to TEPHINET by you:
Check out additional photos from World Field Epidemiology Day 2022!
