EN Mongolian FETP introduction

Background

Strengthening capacity in field epidemiology is a key component to ensure a high level of human health security and protection in the country. Therefore, Ministry of Health (MOH) established Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) in Mongolia in August 2009 with support from WHO. It ensures that the country meets basic requirements of minimum core capacities for communicable disease surveillance and response of IHR (2005), under the framework of APSED workplan.

Goal

The goals are to establish and sustain a critical mass of skilled field epidemiologists in Mongolia so as to enable the country to respond and control promptly infectious diseases and other public health emergencies of national, regional and international concern.

Objectives

• - To produce high-level field epidemiologists and core disease prevention and control staff, and equip them with technical competencies
• To promote more effective and efficient epidemiological surveillance and outbreak response system
• To support operational research leading to better public health services

Overview of programme content/curriculum

The training curriculum consists of 15% classroom teaching (around 1.5 months) and 85% of field work (around 10.5 months). The main purpose of the classroom training is to introduce key concepts of epidemiologic methods and biostatistics required to work effectively in public health field followed by supervised field work. During the field works, all fellows are involved in variety of field projects, outbreak investigation, and surveillance and operational research projects.

Participants

In every cohort, up to 6 trainees attached to the programme for one year. This year, the programme expanded to sub-national level accepting two people from provincial health departments (Khuvsgul and Khovd).
To date, the programme produced 18 graduates who returned to their pre-FETP positions with increased probability to get promoted because of their expertise obtained in FETP. Graduates, also actively involved in teaching for following cohorts so that they are continuing "learning by teaching".

Training methodology

Lecture, problem exercise (case study), mini projects, supervised field projects including outbreak investigation, surveillance and operational research projects

Findings

In its nearly 2.5 years in existence, the programme gathered attention from the Ministry of Health and other government agencies for its contribution in the investigation and control of events. To date, it contributed to the changes in national public health policies such as infection control guidelines for hospital acquired infections, standard of neonates care, strategies for the control and prevention of anthrax outbreak. The credibility of the programme is evident in institutionalizing and establishing MFET unit at NCCD in January 2012 to ensure sustainability of the programme.
MFETP is an active member of TEPHINET. MFETP website, quarterly newsletter and other publications increased visibility of the programme.