FREETOWN, Sierra Leone | 30 July 2026 — Sierra Leone has reached another important milestone in strengthening its public health workforce and emergency preparedness with the official launch of the country’s first Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program (Advanced FETP). The program, launched by the Government of Sierra Leone through the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen, brought together senior government officials, development partners, diplomats, academia, and public health experts united by a shared commitment to advancing the nation’s capacity to detect, investigate, and respond to public health threats.
The introduction of the Advanced FETP marks a significant advancement in Sierra Leone’s efforts to build a highly skilled epidemiology workforce capable of responding to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, as well as other public health emergencies. Designed for experienced public health professionals, the program will strengthen advanced competencies in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, emergency response, operational research, and evidence-based decision-making, ultimately enhancing national health security and resilience.
The ceremony commenced with the registration of guests, followed by an invocation and the introduction of the Chairperson by Dr. Abdul Karim Mbawah of the National Public Health Agency. Delivering the opening remarks, Dr. Sartie Kenneh, Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of sustained investment in the public health workforce. He noted that developing highly trained field epidemiologists is fundamental to protecting communities from disease outbreaks, strengthening surveillance systems, and ensuring the country remains prepared to respond effectively to future public health emergencies.
Providing an overview of Sierra Leone’s Field Epidemiology Training Programme and the newly established Advanced FETP, Brigadier General Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency, reflected on the country’s progress in building epidemiological capacity over the years. He explained that the Advanced FETP represents the highest level of field epidemiology training available in Sierra Leone and is designed to prepare public health professionals to lead complex outbreak investigations, mentor future epidemiologists, conduct operational research, and support evidence-informed public health interventions nationwide. He reaffirmed the NPHA’s commitment to strengthening national health security through sustained investment in workforce development, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
The launch also featured goodwill messages from key national and international partners, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s public health priorities. Representatives from the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, the University of Sierra Leone, the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the United States Embassy commended the Government of Sierra Leone for prioritizing workforce development as a cornerstone of resilient health systems. They emphasized that strengthening advanced epidemiological capacity is essential for improving disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, rapid response, and evidence-based public health action while contributing to regional and global health security.
The highlight of the ceremony was the keynote address delivered by the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Austin H. Demby, who officially inaugurated the first cohort of the Sierra Leone Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program. Describing the programme as a strategic investment in the nation’s future, Dr. Demby emphasized that resilient health systems are built on a foundation of highly trained professionals capable of detecting health threats early, generating quality evidence, and coordinating timely, effective responses to outbreaks. Reflecting on lessons learned from previous public health emergencies, he stressed that strengthening the epidemiology workforce remains central to safeguarding the health of Sierra Leoneans and expressed confidence that the program will produce a new generation of public health leaders equipped to address increasingly complex health challenges.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks delivered on behalf of the inaugural cohort of the Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program. Speaking on behalf of the trainees, the cohort representative expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone, the National Public Health Agency, the Ministry of Health, AFENET, development partners, academic institutions, and all stakeholders whose support made the program possible. The representative pledged the cohort’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, scientific excellence, ethical leadership, and public service throughout the training and in their future roles as field epidemiologists. The event concluded with an official group photograph, commemorating the launch of this landmark initiative.
The establishment of the Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Program represents a transformative investment in Sierra Leone’s public health system and a critical step toward developing a sustainable workforce capable of protecting the nation against current and emerging health threats. As infectious diseases continue to evolve in complexity and frequency, the program will equip public health professionals with the advanced technical expertise, leadership skills, and analytical capacity required to detect outbreaks early, generate timely evidence, inform policy, and coordinate effective emergency responses. By strengthening epidemiological capacity across all levels of the health system, Sierra Leone is reinforcing its commitment to the One Health approach, the International Health Regulations (2005), and the broader goal of achieving universal health security. Beyond strengthening national preparedness, the Advanced FETP is expected to cultivate a new generation of public health leaders whose expertise will contribute not only to safeguarding the health of Sierra Leoneans but also to strengthening regional and global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies.