South-East Asia Regional Conference on Epidemiology

286 | <strong>South</strong>-<strong>East</strong> <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Epidemiology
Fig. 1: Three-month <strong>Regional</strong> Field Epidemiology Training Programme:1996-2009
The five weeks of classroom teaching includes concept of field epidemiology, epidemiological tools,
biostatistical applications, principles of outbreak investigations, disease surveillance and management
of disease control programmes. The methodology of conducting FETP includes lectures, technical
discussions, modular exercises, visits to institutions and field exercises. Basic skills for the use of EPI
INFO at computer workstations are also provided. Field exercises are conducted in collaboration with
the regional field units of NCDC. In this course, experienced faculty not only from NCDC but also from
other national institutes and experts from WHO and other international agencies participate as trainers.
Besides the 3-month FETP, NCDC organizes a special course for paramedics for four weeks, which
is in great demand, particularly from other countries in the Region. Detailed feedback is obtained from
the participants and there is a system of continuous dialogue with the trainees.
A 2-year MPH course affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, was
started in 2006 with the objective to strengthen technical capabilities and skills of health personnel and
to create a cadre of field epidemiologists. The course is open to both inservice and fresh candidates
(Table 1). This course consists of four semesters having 26 credits. The focus in the first, second and
fourth semesters is on interactive training using modules and exercises. Laboratory practical is also a
part of the course in which microbiology, biochemistry and medical entomology is taught. Laboratory
training is the strength of the institute which is needed in the present circumstances of emergence of
many vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Field exercises is another feature of the MPH course when
the trainees participate in outbreak investigations, short projects, seminars and panel discussions and
visit different organizations to observe public health activities. One semester is dedicated to the fieldbased
project. It is a requirement of the university to submit the dissertation at the end of the semester.
Topics of public health importance are covered in the fieldwork. Based on the experiences of the last
four courses, experts advised that there was a need to re-examine the course curriculum. In the revised
curriculum, there is now more emphasis on competency-based skill acquisition and 60% of the work
is in the field, with close monitoring of the scholars.