Building Zambia’s Health Security: Central Province Celebrates Frontline FETP Graduates
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AFENET
The ceremony was attended by key public health leaders, including Professor Roma Chilengi, Director General of ZNPHI; Dr. Isaac Banda, Public Health Specialist at the Central Provincial Health Office; Mr. Ernest Kateule, Program Coordinator for Frontline FETP; Ms. Lwito Mutale, Provincial Epidemiologist; and Mr. Shadreck Mufwaya, Provincial Surveillance Officer. Their presence highlighted the significance of this achievement in enhancing disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Dr. Banda emphasized the transformative impact of the FETP, citing how the program has equipped frontline health workers with critical skills to detect and respond to emerging public health threats. He pointed to a major success—the province’s swift detection of Zambia’s first Mpox case—as a testament to the effectiveness of the training. “ZNPHI’s unwavering support in strengthening the capacity of our frontline health workers has positioned us to respond swiftly to public health events and protect our communities,” he stated.
Professor Chilengi outlined ZNPHI’s strategic vision to expand Zambia’s field epidemiology workforce, particularly at the frontline level, to ensure continuous vigilance against potential outbreaks. “Our frontline staff must maintain a high index of suspicion—this enables them to act decisively, saving lives, containing disease spread, and implementing sustainable interventions,” he stressed.
ZNPHI, in collaboration with partners such as the Global Fund and the World Bank, remains committed to scaling up Zambia’s public health security workforce through the FETP. Professor Chilengi challenged the graduates to embrace their role as ‘disease detectives’ and public health agents, urging them to be proactive in identifying and mitigating health threats. He further encouraged them to share their expertise, fostering a collaborative network of trained epidemiologists.
“This graduation is not the end of your journey—it is the beginning of your impact in the field of public health and epidemiology,” he declared. Recognizing the growing global demand for skilled epidemiologists, he inspired the graduates to apply their training with dedication, shaping not only their careers but also the health security of their communities.
The graduation of the 23rd FETP Frontline cohort in Central Province stands as a testament to Zambia’s ongoing commitment to strengthening health security through capacity building, ensuring a resilient frontline workforce ready to tackle emerging and re-emerging health threats.
