FETP Expands Its Footprint in Zambia with 21 New Graduates from Muchinga
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AFENET
Mpika, Zambia | May 5, 2025 — The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Global Fund, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), celebrated the graduation of 21 frontline health workers from the Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) in Muchinga Province. This marks a significant step in building Zambia’s capacity for early detection and response to public health threats.
The event brought together high-level public health stakeholders, including Dr. Nyambe Sinyange, Director of the Workforce Development Cluster at ZNPHI, who represented the Director General, and Dr. David Silweya, Provincial Health Director for Muchinga Province.
In his address, Dr. Silweya described the graduation as a major milestone for the province. He emphasized Muchinga’s unique geographic position as a gateway to East Africa—an asset for trade but also a vulnerability for cross-border public health threats, including Mpox and cholera.
He commended the FETP for equipping health workers with critical skills in field investigation, outbreak detection, and disease surveillance, and called on ZNPHI and its partners to continue expanding training opportunities. “These frontline officers are now better prepared to protect our communities from emerging threats. We need more of this capacity, especially in border districts,” he said.
Dr. Silweya encouraged the graduates to embrace leadership roles in their districts, apply their new knowledge, and pursue further training in applied epidemiology.
Dr. Sinyange, speaking on behalf of ZNPHI leadership, lauded the resilience and dedication of the trainees and reaffirmed the national commitment to strengthening the health workforce. “Muchinga faces significant public health threats including cholera, measles, Mpox, and typhoid. Your province is not only a frontline for commerce—but for disease control too,” he noted.
He highlighted the cumulative national impact of the FETP, announcing that over 522 health workers across Zambia have now graduated from the program. “This is more than a number—it reflects lives protected, outbreaks averted, and systems strengthened,” he said.
Dr. Sinyange also extended his gratitude to the Global Fund for sustained investment in health security, and to the dedicated facilitators and mentors who guided the trainees through their fieldwork and learning process.
The graduation ceremony concluded with a strong call to action for continued collaboration, innovation, and commitment to public service among the newly minted field epidemiologists.
“Your work is not just about numbers and data; it is about safeguarding lives and building healthier communities.” — Dr. Nyambe Sinyange
