Bandoh Delia Akosua, Kenu Ernest, Ameme Donne Kofi, Sackey Samuel Oko, Wurapa Fredrick, Afari Edwin Andrew
Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
Pan Afr Med J. 2019 May 29;33:68. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.33.68.16431. eCollection 2019.
Field Epidemiology Training Programmes (FETPs) are functional ways of strengthening epidemiology, surveillance and outbreak response capacity in countries. However, sustainability of FETPs is a major challenge facing most countries especially in Africa. The Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP) started in 2007 in the University of Ghana School of Public Health as a solution to gaps in the public health workforce. This paper assessed the sustainability strategies embedded in the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme.
We assessed the sustainability of GFELTP by document reviews and interviews with programme staff and stakeholders to identify sustainability structures (programme, financial and institutional) that were in place. We grouped information into the following headings: programme structure, institutional, financial and political structures.
As of July 2017, a total of 350 public health experts have been trained in both frontline and advanced courses since the programme's inception. For funding structures, the programme is funded mainly by its partners and stakeholders who are local government organisations. They provide resources for running of programme activities. Under institutional and political structures, the programme was established as a Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service programme based in the University of Ghana. The programme steering committee which is currently chaired by the Director Public Health of Ghana Health Service, jointly ensures its implementation. Other structures of sustainability observed were involvement of stakeholders and alumni in human resource of the programme; use of stakeholders as faculty for the programme. These stakeholders include staff from University of Ghana School of Public Health, Ghana Health Service and Veterinary Service Department, World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The programme showed evidence of stable sustainability strategies in all four structures evaluated.
The assessment found the GFELTP to be sustainable. The main factors that contributed to rendering it sustainable were funding, programme, institutional and political structures embedded in the programme. One remarkable sustainability element observed was the strong collaboration that existed between stakeholders of the programme who worked hand in hand to ensure the programme runs smoothly. However, more sources of funding and other essential resources need to be considered to help the programme obtain a pool of resources for carrying out its activities.
现场流行病学培训项目（FETPs）是加强各国流行病学、监测和疫情应对能力的有效方式。然而，FETPs的可持续性是大多数国家尤其是非洲国家面临的一项重大挑战。加纳现场流行病学和实验室培训项目（GFELTP）于2007年在加纳大学公共卫生学院启动，以解决公共卫生劳动力方面的差距。本文评估了加纳现场流行病学和实验室培训项目中所蕴含的可持续性策略。
我们通过文件审查以及与项目工作人员和利益相关者的访谈来评估GFELTP的可持续性，以确定已有的可持续性结构（项目、财务和机构）。我们将信息归类为以下标题：项目结构、机构、财务和政治结构。
截至2017年7月，自该项目启动以来，共有350名公共卫生专家接受了一线和高级课程培训。在资金结构方面，该项目主要由其合作伙伴和利益相关者（即地方政府组织）提供资金。他们为项目活动的开展提供资源。在机构和政治结构方面，该项目作为加纳卫生部/加纳卫生服务局的一个项目设立在加纳大学。目前由加纳卫生服务局公共卫生主任担任主席的项目指导委员会共同确保其实施。观察到的其他可持续性结构包括利益相关者和校友参与项目的人力资源；利用利益相关者作为项目教员。这些利益相关者包括加纳大学公共卫生学院、加纳卫生服务局和兽医服务部、世界卫生组织以及疾病控制和预防中心的工作人员。该项目在评估的所有四个结构中都显示出稳定的可持续性策略的证据。
评估发现GFELTP具有可持续性。使其具有可持续性的主要因素是项目中所蕴含的资金、项目、机构和政治结构。观察到的一个显著的可持续性要素是项目利益相关者之间存在强有力的合作，他们携手合作以确保项目顺利运行。然而，需要考虑更多的资金来源和其他必要资源，以帮助该项目获得开展活动所需的资源库。
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