CARPHA and Barbados launch Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme
CARPHA and the Barbados Ministry of Health successfully launched the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (CR-FELTP), on May 5, 2014, with a week-long training workshop in applied epidemiology, outbreak investigations, and computer tools. The Level I training programme will consist of four face-to-face training modules over a period of 5 months, for Trainees from broad range of public health professional areas within the Ministry.
Dr. Karen Springer, Senior Medical Officer for the Barbados Ministry of Health and the Barbados Country Coordinator for CR-FELTP, has led the charge by identifying fifteen enthusiastic Trainees, who will comprise the first cohort of the Caribbean Regional Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme.
In addition to the training modules, Trainees will complete several “learning through service” projects in their workplaces, under the supervision of a Mentor. Twelve Mentors, who are experienced public health managers and scientists, were recruited from within the Barbados Ministry of Health: they are tasked with providing feedback and support to the FELTP Trainees, and ensuring that Trainees complete all programme requirements by September.
Training material has been developed by the CARPHA CR-FELTP team, in collaboration with many subject matter experts from the Caribbean region, including partners from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), University of West Indies (UWI), and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC). Each country participating in the CR- FELTP will use a common curriculum that addresses core public health competencies, while the projects that Trainees undertake in their work sites will be tailored to the public health priorities of their host organizations.
Barbados is the first of eleven countries which will be launching their own national Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programmes in 2014-2015.
More information about the CR-FELTP is available here http://carpha.org/feltp.