Recruit field epidemiologists  — Govt urged

KAMPALA - The Government of Uganda has been urged to create structures and a system in the Health Ministry which employs multi-skilled field epidemiologists to track disease outbreaks.

“Capacity has already been built, all Government has to do is to start employing directly multi-purpose field epidemiologists who can be sent out in case of a disease outbreak,” the director of public health at the health ministry, Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, has said.

Dr. Kyabayinze says this will curb the practice of depending on agencies for support.

He estimated that a total of 300 multi-skilled people have been trained in field epidemiology in the country. Some of them are doctors, laboratory technologists, and environmental health officers.

“With that additional skill, once there is an outbreak, then they are called upon to act as surge response personnel or rapid response teams,” Dr. Kyabayinze said.

The director of public health at the Health Ministry Dr Daniel Kyabayinze addressing guests at the AFENET @20celebrations. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

An epidemiologist is a public health detective who investigates patterns and causes of disease, injury, and other health issues in populations to prevent them and promote health. They collect and analyse data from various sources such as surveys and health records to identify risk factors, understand how diseases spread, and develop public health policies and prevention strategies.

Epidemiologists work to control outbreaks, reduce disease risk, and improve community health outcomes by conducting research, educating the public, and informing health policies.

Dr. Kyabayinze also asked government to put money aside, which can be given to agencies with specialised skills to budget and release it on the first day of the outbreak.
“Government bureaucracies should not handle money in case of an outbreak, because an outbreak requires spending immediately,” he said.

“Additionally, Government expenditure requires requisition for planning and even knowing the budget. For outbreaks, you can never know what the budget is. So, if we do not work around those bottlenecks which delay response, then the outbreak becomes expensive.”

Dr Kyabayinze was speaking during an event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Africa Field of Epidemiology Network (AFENET) under the theme: AFENET’s two decades of impact: shaping a healthier future for communities. This was at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on October 6.

The director of public health at the health ministry Dr Daniel Kyabayinze cutting cake during the AFENET @20celebrations as other officials look on. (Credit: Agnes Kyotalengerire)

Uganda applauded for managing outbreaks

The director of AFENET, Dr. Simon Antara, applauded the Government of Uganda, noting that Uganda is a founder member of AFENET and is among the first few countries in Africa to start training people in the special areas of epidemiology.

Dr. Antara said Uganda is known for a lot of outbreaks, including the recent Ebola Virus disease, and has managed to control them every time they occur.

He urged the Government of Uganda to continue with training of more field epidemiologists.