Tanzania Graduates 20 Field Epidemiologists from the 8th Intermediate FETP Cohort

The 8th Intermediate Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) cohort officially graduated on Friday, 9 October 2026, at the Centre for Distance Education in Morogoro, Tanzania.

Supported under the Pandemic Fund Project, this first Pandemic Fund-supported Intermediate FETP cohort comprised 20 trainees from Simiyu, Songwe, and Morogoro regions. The graduation ceremony was officiated by Dr. Samwel Lazaro, Director of Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, who served as the Guest of Honour.

During the nine-month training program, trainees strengthened their competencies in public health surveillance, epidemiological data analysis, surveillance system evaluation, outbreak investigation and response, operational research, and scientific communication. Through classroom training, field assignments, and mentorship, trainees applied these skills to address public health priorities in their respective regions.

With the graduation of these 20 trainees, the Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP) has now graduated 127 Intermediate FETP trainees, bringing the cumulative number of graduates across all three tiers to 1,260 (242 Advanced, 127 Intermediate, and 891 Frontline). This growing workforce continues to strengthen Tanzania’s capacity for disease surveillance, early detection, investigation, and response to public health threats.

The graduation marks an important milestone in the implementation of the Pandemic Fund Project, with the first of two planned Intermediate FETP cohorts successfully completing training. The project supports nine FETP cohorts across the three tiers: six Frontline, two Intermediate, and one Advanced cohort. Through collaboration between the Ministry of Health, AFENET, MUHAS, WHO, CDC, and other partners, the program continues to strengthen Tanzania’s public health workforce and contribute to national health security.