The African Epidemic Service: Advancing Public Health Through Applied Epidemiology

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is devoted to strengthening the continent’s capability to forestall, detect, and reply to well being threats. One of its key initiatives is the African Epidemic Service (AES), an elite workforce improvement program designed to equip professionals with crucial abilities in public well being. Among its three specialised tracks—Epidemiology, Laboratory Leadership, and Public Health Informatics—the Epidemiology monitor stands out as a rigorous two-year coaching program that prepares the subsequent era of illness surveillance and response specialists.

About the Fellowship

The AES-Epidemiology monitor is a competency-based utilized epidemiology coaching program geared toward bolstering illness prevention and response capacities throughout Africa. The program’s first cohort started coaching in August 2024, and functions for the second cohort are actually open. The fellowship is designed for people obsessed with public well being and epidemiology, providing them hands-on expertise in tackling real-world well being challenges.

Structure and Benefits of the Fellowship

The program consists of:

• Three months of intensive classroom coaching in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• Twenty-one months of discipline coaching in an African Union (AU) Member State.
• A One Health method, integrating human, animal, and environmental well being to sort out illness threats comprehensively.
• Supervision and mentorship, guaranteeing that fellows obtain steerage from specialists all through this system.
• Experiential studying, together with actions comparable to information evaluation, surveillance system analysis, and outbreak investigations.

Fellows obtain complete assist, together with travel-related bills, stipends, studying supplies, and insurance coverage protection, guaranteeing a conducive studying surroundings.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship targets professionals from AU Member States with a background in public well being. Eligible candidates should:

• Be underneath 35 years of age.
• Hold a graduate diploma in medication, veterinary medication, nursing, environmental well being, or a associated public well being discipline.
• Possess an MPH or equal with coursework in epidemiology or quantitative analysis.
• Have a minimum of three years of full-time public well being postgraduate expertise in an African nation.
• Demonstrate proficiency in a minimum of one of many AU’s working languages.

Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) fellows and graduates will not be eligible to apply.

Application Process

Applicants should submit an internet application, together with:

1. A legitimate nationwide passport from an AU Member State.
2. A letter of assist from a authorities establishment granting permission to attend the coaching.
3. Two skilled advice letters.
4. Official transcripts and levels (bachelor’s and grasp’s).
5. Evidence of latest public well being expertise.
6. A quick CV (most two pages).
7. A motivation assertion explaining how this system aligns with their profession targets and public well being enhancements of their home nation.
8. (Optional) Evidence of extra related {qualifications}.

Incomplete functions is not going to be thought of. Interested people ought to apply through the web portal here. Apply by March 31, 2025.

A Call to Action

Public well being challenges in Africa require well-trained professionals prepared to answer rising well being threats. The AES-Epidemiology monitor offers a novel alternative for younger public well being professionals to realize sensible expertise and make a tangible affect on their communities. If you might be obsessed with utilized epidemiology and dedicated to advancing public well being in Africa, this program is for you.

For extra particulars, go to www.africacdc.org or e mail AESP@africa-union.org.

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