The graduation of cohorts 9 and 10 of the Sierra Leone Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP-Light) marks another milestone in the country’s journey to strengthen its public health workforce. Since its inception in 2016, FETP has steadily expanded across Sierra Leone, training chiefdom supervisors to serve as the backbone of surveillance and outbreak response. To date, a total of 180 Chiefdom Supervisors have been trained across ten cohorts: 20 each in Bo, Moyamba, Tonkolili, Pujehun, and Kenema; 15 in Kailahun; 14 in Karene; 16 in Kono; 17 in Bombali; and 18 in Port Loko. This achievement reflects the dedication of the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), who continue to push for more individuals to be trained. Plans are already underway to extend the program to additional districts, including Bonthe, Western Area Rural, and Western Area Urban, ensuring that surveillance capacity is strengthened nationwide.
Both ceremonies in Bombali and Port Loko followed the same agenda, beginning with prayers by graduates of both Christian and Muslim faiths. Mr. Solomon Sogbeh from the Workforce Program of NPHA welcomed attendees, called the meeting to order, and introduced the high table. Distinguished leaders included Alhaji Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi, Deputy Executive Director of NPHA; Dr. Gebru Nagash, Resident Advisor and Country Representative of AFENET; Alhaji Sheriff, Workforce Program Manager; Mr. Michael Ndolie, WHO Representative; Miss Rachael Kuyembeh, Public Relations Coordinator of NPHA; and, in Bombali, Sister Isata Bosco Kamara, Lead Sister at DHMT Majebi.
In Bombali, Dr. Martin Samuel Yonnie chaired the ceremony, extending warm greetings on behalf of the District Medical Officer and congratulating the graduates. Partner statements followed: Dr. Gebru Nagash congratulated the graduates and urged them to see their training as a national investment in resilience; Mr. Ndolie reflected on the challenges of the Ebola outbreak and expressed joy that Sierra Leone now has its own trained cadre, extending warm greetings from WHO leadership; and Sister Isata Bosco Kamara emphasized the importance of nursing leadership in supporting surveillance and outbreak response.
Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi delivered the NPHA leadership statement in Bombali, conveying congratulatory messages from Professor Foday Sahr and reflecting on his own experience during Ebola as DMO of Kenema DHMT. He described FETP as “CDC’s baby” and FETP-Light as his own “baby,” recounting how he convinced CDC to adapt the curriculum for Sierra Leone. He expressed pride that Sierra Leone is the only country to have established FETP-Light and urged graduates not to be complacent, assuring them that NPHA is working to expand training at the chiefdom level.
In Port Loko, the NPHA leadership statement was delivered by Dr. James Squire, Surveillance Director. He extended pleasantries, welcomed attendees, and thanked partners for their support. He congratulated the graduates, reminding them that hard work pays off, and reflected on how surveillance capacity has grown since Ebola, from very few officers to now 20 surveillance officers per district. He shared a personal reflection, noting that he and the DMO of Port Loko DHMT, Dr. John Fallah Yillia, were classmates in medical school, where they studied hard to reach their current positions. He emphasized that the FETP-Light program is a six-week learn-and-work model, where participants practice what they learn in real time, focusing on data quality, outbreak detection, and response. He reiterated that the program serves as the foundation level of Sierra Leone’s surveillance workforce, combining 25% classroom instruction with 75% field practice to enhance real-time surveillance. He ended by thanking all partners present, congratulating the graduates, and encouraging them to remain proactive so they may be selected for higher levels of training.
Dr. John Fallah Yillia, DMO of Port Loko DHMT, served as chairman of the Port Loko ceremony. In response to Dr. Squire’s remarks, he reminded the graduates that FETP-Light complements the existing Frontline program launched in 2010 and the Intermediate program introduced in 2017 after the Ebola outbreak. Together, these tiers were designed to build a resilient national public health workforce. He emphasized that the targeted audience for FETP-Light includes chiefdom supervisors, Community Health Care (CHC) staff, and Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) staff. He thanked the partnership led by NPHA with support from the US CDC and AFENET and moderated the certificate distribution to the graduates by the high table dignitaries. After the certificates were presented, he invited one of the graduates to deliver the vote of thanks.
The graduate expressed heartfelt gratitude to NPHA leadership, AFENET, WHO, and CDC for their unwavering support, acknowledged mentors for their guidance, and thanked families for their encouragement. He pledged that the graduates would carry forward the lessons learned, serving as ambassadors of surveillance and outbreak response in their districts. The ceremonies concluded with group photographs, capturing the unity and pride of graduates, mentors, and partners.
The graduation of cohorts 9 and 10 of FETP-Light in Bombali and Port Loko stands as a testament to Sierra Leone’s progress in building a resilient public health workforce. From the solemn prayers to the final group photographs, the ceremonies captured both the academic achievement of the graduates and the collective resolve of the nation. The statements from NPHA leadership, AFENET, WHO, and CDC highlighted the collaborative effort that has sustained the program, while the graduates’ fieldwork presentations demonstrated the practical impact of their training. With 180 chiefdom supervisors trained so far and more districts set to benefit, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with NPHA, continues to push for expanded training opportunities. Their dedication reflects a national commitment to evidence-based practice, inclusivity, and preparedness for future public health challenges. The graduates now join a growing network of epidemiologists who will carry forward the legacy of resilience, mentorship, and national progress.
Public Relations Unit
NPHA-SL