Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program

Liberia FETP April 2020 Bulletin

Moving from Response to Capacity Building

The 2014/2015 Ebola epidemic in Liberia destabilized health systems and revealed weaknesses in disease surveillance and response in the country. After the Ebola outbreak, the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) was introduced to contribute to strategies for the National Health Investment Plan. LFETP is to help:- develop a fit-for-purpose, productive & motivated health workforce & strengthen epidemic preparedness, surveillance and response systems.

LFETP was established by the Ministry of Health, owned by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia with financial and technical support from US CDC and AFENET.

COVID-19 Risk Perception Rapid Survey

A total of 41 graduates and trainees of the Intermediate FETP conducted a COVID-19 risk perception rapid survey in the 15 counties of Liberia. The exercise lasted for 8 days , March 30, 2020 – April 7, 2020. Each of the data collectors completed a total of 25 interviews summing up to 1,025 respondents. 161 (16%) of respondents said COVID-19 was either not real or a scam by the government.

Pics 1-3: LFETP participants/graduates conducting the risk perception survey

Record Review

A health facility record review of severe acute respiratory illnesses was conducted by the Frontline LFETP Cohort 11 trainees from 9th to 17th April 2020. The objective was to assess data quality and identify the trend of respiratory illnesses over the six-month period from October 2019 to March 2020. The findings will contribute to the basis for the establishment of respiratory illness surveillance post COVID-19.

A health facility record review of severe acute respiratory illnesses was conducted by the Frontline LFETP Cohort 11 trainees from 9th to All 19 LFETP Frontline Cohort 11 trainees participated in the survey that took place in 5 counties in Liberia. More than 3000 individual records met the case definition between October 2019 to March 2020.

Pics 4-6: Record review activities by LFETP Cohort 11 participants

Acknowledgements: MoH – Liberia, National Public Health Institute of Liberia,  US CDC , AFENET, Liberia FETP Mentors, trainees and graduates