The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has opened the call for applications for the 12th Cohort of the Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Programme (NFETP). If you are a skilled and experienced public health professional, this is an opportunity to further develop your technical skills and field-readiness competencies to respond to current and future public health threats in Nigeria. When disease outbreaks or other public health threats emerge, Field Epidemiologists trained through the NFETP support the Government of Nigeria’s response right at the frontline.
What is NFETP?
The Advanced Nigeria Field Epidemiology Training Programme (NFETP) is a two-year in-service training programme in field epidemiology that provides competency-based training and service delivery in applied epidemiology and public health. It is being coordinated by the NCDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and Federal Ministry of Environment (FMoE).
The programme aims to build workforce capacity in disease surveillance and response, with dedicated mentorship using the One Health approach. The trainees support and contribute to the growth of public health capacity at national and state levels during the training, and gain hands-on experience through field placements. The programme is currently funded by the Government of Nigeria, with support from World Bank through the REDISSE project. This programme is a fellowship administered by the NCDC and not an academic programme.
What does the programme aim to achieve?
- To train future leaders in applied epidemiology with an emphasis on developing solutions for public health events
- To provide epidemiological capacity as part of Nigeria’s health security
- To strengthen public health surveillance systems for human, animal, and environmental health
- To strengthen the One Health approach to outbreak preparedness and response, including the linkage between public health, veterinary public health, and environmental health
- To develop capacity that leads and contributes effectively to public health research activities for human, animal and environmental health
- To improve communications and networking among public health practitioners and researchers in Nigeria and across African countries.
- To strengthen affiliations with international organisations, such as the Training Programmes in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and other applied epidemiology and laboratory training programmes in other countries.
Eligibility
- A Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or a Master’s degree (MSc) in epidemiology or biostatistics, or in a related field such as microbiology, biochemistry, medical laboratory science.
- A minimum of two years experience working in public health or related fields within a government institution (with evidence of confirmation).
- A membership or fellowship qualification in public health or community medicine or veterinary public health from a recognised postgraduate college is acceptable (for medical and veterinary medicine graduates).
- A PhD is an added advantage.
- Candidates must be fully employed in an organisation
If eligible, how do you apply?
The application forms are available on www.ncdc.gov.ng from the 12th April, 2021 to 9th May, 2021. The deadline for submission of the application is 15th May, 2021. Incomplete and wrongly filled forms will not be considered.
You are advised to read and follow the general guidelines of the application process provided on the portal. These guidelines provide important information about form completion and contact details for technical issues with the website/portal.
After submission, a confirmation message will be sent to your email address and telephone number.
Direct questions may be addressed to the NFETP focal person, Dr. Oladipo Ogunbode via e-mail: oladipo.ogunbode@ncdc.gov.ng
How will the new cohort be selected?
Applicants are expected to submit a personal statement of at least 500 words including a brief overview of educational achievements, career goals and how the NFETP will aid in achieving these goals. Applicants must also submit a letter of authorization and recommendation from their employers, and photocopies of relevant credentials.
Eligible applicants will be shortlisted and invited for a written assessment administered by the programme. Successful candidates will subsequently undergo an oral interview. During the interview, applicants are expected to present the original copies of their relevant credentials.
How will successful candidates be notified?
Successful applicants will be notified via email of admission into the programme. Admission letters will be also be sent to the email address provided during the application process.
How soon will the programme start?
The expected date of commencement is September 2021.
