The Egypt FETP program recognizes the importance of capacity building at all levels of the health system. Therefore, it strategically targets its training to address the needs of different cadres. The program offers three levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Basic level focuses on equipping frontline health workers at the district level with essential epidemiological skills. The Intermediate and Advanced levels cater to professionals at the directorate and central levels, respectively, providing them with in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in public health and epidemiology.
This 3-month on-the-job training addresses the critical skills needed to conduct surveillance effectively at the local level, focusing on improving disease detection, reporting, and feedback. Trainees spend up to 12 days in three workshops. They spend the remaining 8–10 weeks back at their jobs, where they conduct field projects to practice, implement, and reinforce what they have learned. Projects include creating a report that summarizes the surveillance data routinely collected at their agency; conducting monitoring, evaluation, and feedback visits at reporting sites; performing a health problem analysis; and participating in an outbreak investigation. Trainees who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of completion.
This 9-month on-the-job program addresses the skills needed by health officials at the middle level of the MoHP to improve epidemiologic capacity to evaluate and strengthen public health surveillance systems, investigate and control outbreaks, and conduct field studies to address public health priority issues. Classroom instruction (8 weeks total, in 5 workshops) addresses surveillance interpretation and analysis; surveillance system evaluation; outbreak investigation; study design; planning and conducting a survey; data entry and analysis in Epi Info; public health communication; and training and mentorship. Trainees develop these competencies through individual field projects and a group survey. Trainees who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of completion.
This 2-year training provides training and experience in field epidemiology for health professionals expected to take leadership roles in the MoHP. Typically, 20–25% of the 2 years is spent in the classroom with the training focused on advanced surveillance, epidemiologic methods, field investigations, and written and oral scientific communication. Field projects include planning and conducting an epidemiologic study of a public health priority topic, giving an oral presentation at a national or international scientific conference, and submitting a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Trainees who successfully complete the program receive a certificate of completion.