The Liberia Field Epidemiology Training Program (LFETP) was established in August 2015 with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and implementation support from the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET). In its initial year, Emory University played a pivotal role in setting up and implementing the program.
Currently, the LFETP is housed within the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and works closely with the Division of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (DIDE) and Division of Training and Capacity-Building. The Program Director for LFETP is also the Director of DIDE. The majority of LFETP trainings are conducted at the Training Unit of NPHIL.
The LFETP consists of two levels: FETP-Frontline and FETP-Intermediate. Over the past five years, ten graduates from LFETP-Intermediate have enrolled in the Advanced FETP in Ghana. The program has trained medical, environmental, laboratory, and animal health personnel from NPHIL, Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Defense. In 2021, the Executive FETP was introduced as a six-week training package specifically designed for surveillance officer supervisors, equipping them with the necessary skills to support the implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response.
As of September 2024, the LFETP has graduated 291 individuals across 13 cohorts at the Frontline level. Additionally, 116 individuals have completed the program in eight cohorts at the Intermediate level.
Moreover, the LFETP has trained 39 Medical Directors from three cohorts of the Executive FETP, providing them with essential leadership skills to enhance major health facilities.
These achievements underscore the continuous growth and impact of the LFETP in developing skilled epidemiologists and strengthening public health capacity in Liberia. We remain dedicated to delivering high-quality training and nurturing the next generation of public health leaders.
