During the 2018 TEPHINET Program Directors Meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from July 16 to 18 of this year, TEPHINET officially welcomed two field epidemiology training programs as new members.
Joining the network are the Zambia Field Epidemiology Training Program and the Regional Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (the latter is based in Thailand).
The Zambia Field Epidemiology Training Program was launched in September 2014. It is a comprehensive, two-year, competency-based training and service program resulting from a partnership between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Zambian Ministry of Health, Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health, and the University of Zambia School of Medicine.
The Regional FETP-V was borne out of experience with emerging infectious diseases in the Asia-Pacific region and the critical need to strengthen and improve the technical capacity of veterinarians in veterinary epidemiology. In 2008, an agreement was signed between the ministries of health and agriculture of Thailand to develop an FETP-V that is closely aligned with the country's existing FETP. The FETP-V is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
TEPHINET awarded certificates of membership to representatives from each of the programs at the Program Directors Meeting. Their addition brings the total number of TEPHINET member programs to 71.
For information about becoming a TEPHINET member program, please contact secretariat@tephinet.org.