Strengthening Public Health Through Training: TFELTP Activities in February 2025
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by
AFENET
The Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP) continues to be a cornerstone in building the country’s public health workforce. February 2025 saw significant strides in both Cohort 16 and Cohort 17, with residents engaging in field placements, didactic training, and national health initiatives that directly impact disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Cohort 16: Advancing Public Health Practice
Residents of Cohort 16 spent February immersed in their regional and CDC Implementing Partner field attachments. Their contributions ranged from epidemiological surveillance to community engagement and laboratory strengthening, demonstrating the program’s commitment to hands-on learning and public health impact. One of the notable activities was Cephlen Mathayo’s radio engagement on Inland FM in Mwanza, where he raised community awareness on Marburg Virus Disease (MVD). This public communication effort is critical in fostering early detection and response to potential outbreaks. Similarly, Adam Nassoro played a key role in shaping policy by participating in the 2024 PMTCT Annual Report preparation workshop in Arusha, contributing to strategies aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Elizabeth Nchimbi was on the frontline of outbreak response, supervising cholera case management in Mbeya. Her engagement with the Council Health Management Team (CHMT) at Iganzu CTC underscores the importance of having well-trained epidemiologists embedded in regional health systems to ensure timely and effective interventions. In addition to fieldwork, Cohort 16 embarked on their third-semester didactic sessions. Residents in the epidemiology track delved into Economic Analysis & Evaluation, gaining insights into cost-effectiveness assessments crucial for public health decision-making. Meanwhile, laboratory residents tackled Laboratory Management, Policy, and System Design, enhancing their understanding of laboratory systems critical for disease detection and response.Cohort 17: Integrating into National Health Systems
For Cohort 17, February marked their transition into national field placements, an essential step in equipping them with real-world epidemiological experience. The new residents actively participated in surveillance system evaluations and outbreak response efforts, reinforcing their capacity to contribute to Tanzania’s public health security. Some key highlights from their work include Adela Kisanga’s involvement in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance at Temeke Regional Referral Laboratory and Donatus Mwambete’s contribution to the Laboratory Mapping Checklist Tool for Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Disease Surveillance in Dodoma. These efforts align with national and global priorities to combat AMR and strengthen laboratory networks. Other residents were on the ground in Zanzibar, tackling malaria surveillance. Fatma Abrahman conducted active case searches in Nungwi Maafa Shehia, Kaskazini A District, while Muzzna Ujudi reviewed malaria surveillance registers to enhance reporting accuracy. Their participation in orientation sessions at the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program (ZAMEP) is pivotal in integrating new epidemiologists into disease control programs. Table 1: List of Cohort 17 residents and their Field SitesLooking Ahead: March 2025 Priorities
As the TFELTP progresses into March, priorities include completing didactic sessions for Cohort 16, continuing dissertation data collection, and deploying residents for Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) response activities. Additionally, Cohort 17 will finalize their surveillance system evaluations, presenting their findings to strengthen Tanzania’s public health response strategies. Through rigorous training, hands-on fieldwork, and critical contributions to national health initiatives, TFELTP remains at the forefront of enhancing Tanzania’s epidemiological capacity. The commitment of its residents and faculty ensures that the country is well-equipped to detect, prevent, and respond to public health threats, reinforcing the program’s role as a pillar of public health security.
