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April - June, 2022Issue No. 46QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERFeatureThe ExpertsIn FocusEmpowering the Public HealthWorkforce in the EMR in FieldEpidemiologyYemen’s Field EpidemiologyTraining ProgramA Regional Public HealthLibrary Launched byEMPHNETA Supporter in the Faceof AdversityProjectsAmong several key achievements this quarter,GHD EMPHNET continues to monitor and focuson project activities throughout the year. In thissection, we include a compilation of updates,highlights, and insights of our work with partners.Know MoreApril - June, 2022Page 1

FeatureEmpowering thePublic HealthWorkforce inthe EMR inField EpidemiologyAs the region’s network of FETPs, GHD EMPHNET continues to empower its member programs, providingtechnical support, building workforce capacity, supporting emergency management response, andassisting with logistics. GHD EMPHNET also responded to the need to increase the number of trainedfield epidemiologists and facilitate continued professional development.Expanding FETPsGHD EMPHNET supported the establishment of theintermediate FETP in three countries where othermodalities already exist: Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan, inaddition to new cohorts in Tunisia and Afghanistan. Thesupport extended to Iraq with the delivery of a threemonth course on public health management for theresidents of the Iraqi Intermediate FETP.GHD EMPHNET also launched the Public HealthEmpowerment Program-Basic Field Epidemiology(PHEP-BFE) in two new countries: Morocco andTunisia. GHD EMPHNET also responded to countries’needs for specialized training for their public healthprofessionals by developing a PHEP-BFE, speciallycustomized for COVID-19 to address specified trainingareas like surveillance at points of entry, contact tracing,risk communication, infection control, and outbreakinvestigation.Pioneering Online LearningInitially, GHD EMPHNET launched EMPHNET LearningManagement System (LMS) platform with a focuson COVID-19 response, providing a free, self-pacedlearning experience in Arabic and English. Today, otherfree online courses are available. In the very first monthsof its launch, over 2,700 trainees from across the regionregistered in the LMS courses. To further promote onlinetraining, GHD EMPHNET also converted the entirematerial of the intermediate and basic FETP curriculuminto an online format and developed the PHEP-BFEblended (online and face to face) program.April - June, 2022Page 2

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERFEATUREPromoting Learning through Knowledge ExchangeIn the second year of its launch, the EMPHNET WEBi Series continued to gain popularity as a platformfor knowledge exchange and networking where public health experts from the Eastern Mediterraneanand the globe led discussions, before attendees from around the world. Since its launch in 2020, theEMPHNET WEBi Series held 19 webinars for attendees from the region, Africa, Europe, and NorthAmerica. Another knowledge exchange platform of GHD EMPHNET, the ENGAGE Internship Program,is growing in its support for student learning and professional development experiences outside theacademic setting.Mobilizing FETPs and Rapid Response Teams to the FieldMoving toward having readily available trained public health responders, GHD EMPHNET also supportedpre-deployment rapid response training, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 350 rapidresponders on the sub-national level were trained to enhance response efforts during the COVID-19pandemic. Subsequently, GHD EMPHNET supported the mobilization of more than 100 RRT members,as well as FETPs trained in rapid response, from Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen.April - June, 2022Page 3

The ExpertsYemen’s FieldEpidemiologyTraining ProgramA Supporter in theFace of AdversityField epidemiology training programs (FETPs) were created to help public health systems investigate urgentproblems and recommend interventions to rapidly resolve them and prevent their recurrence. Becauseof their critical role in the investigation and response to health emergencies, FETPs are recognized in theimplementation of the International Health Regulations and the Global Health Security Agenda.A country like Yemen which has been enduring one of the largest humanitarian crises needs the supportof epidemiologists trained by these programs. The country’s health system has been debilitated: limitedaccess to and availability of health services are aggravating existing health problems and creating aplethora of new health challenges. Adding to this is the vulnerability of the country to disease outbreaks,the most serious has been the protracted Cholera outbreak of 2016. Under such circumstances, thecountry’s FETP is making commendable contributions in support of the national health system, being thesource of accurate information for actionable recommendations.The residents and the graduates have been extremely valuable in supporting the activities of the“Ministryof Public Health and Population. Yemen’s FETP Management”Established in 2011, the FETP of Yemen builds the public health national capacity: outbreak investigationand response, disease surveillance, intervention evaluation, and use of data for public health action. Theprogram is run by the Ministry of Public Health and Population with support from the US CDC, the WHO,GHD EMPHNET, and the global FETP network, TEPHINET.Yemen’s FETP isoffered in threemodalities:the advanced,the intermediate,the basic (PublicHealth EmpowermentProgram)April - June, 2022So far, the programgraduated 54 from theadvanced modalityand 350 from the basicmodalityThe program’sresidents arephysicians,veterinarians,laboratorians,and nursesBy 2025, the programintends to haveone trained fieldepidemiologist per200,000 populationPage 4

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTERTHE EXPERTSThe program accomplished quite a lot since itsestablishment. It conducted over 150 outbreakinvestigations for Cholera, Diphtheria, H1N1,Measles, Dengue, and cVDPV1, along withsurveillance systems analyses and surveillancesystem evaluations, while also participating inscientific committees for different diseases such asCholera and COVID-19.coordination, planning, monitoring, and dstrengtheningsurveillancecapacities,outbreak investigation, contact tracing, casemanagement, infection prevention, and control, riskcommunication, and research. They worked underimmense challenges, including security concernsand limited communication tools.Despite many restrictions in place including travel,the program was active in knowledge sharing withtheir peers nationally, regionally, and internationally.It held 5 National Yemen Field Epidemiology TrainingProgram Conferences, published over 35 papers inpeer-reviewed journals, and presented 100 posterabstracts in reputable conferences.For contributing to the national COVID-19response, the program won the CDC’s Director’sAward, presented at the EIS Conference duringthe FETP International Night.During COVID-19, Yemen’s FETP has beeninstrumental in the national response. Residentsand graduates participated in country-levelFor over a decade, Yemen’s FETP was able toimmensely support the national health system. Inthe years to come, and as the program continuesto grow in numbers, Yemen’s FETP can continueto contribute more to protecting the health of thepeople of Yemen.Yemen’s Public HealthEmpowerment ProgramCongratulations to the Yemen Field EpidemiologyTraining Program (YFETP) on graduating its15th cohort of the Public Health EmpowermentProgram!Know MoreApril - June, 2022Page 5

In FocusA Regional Public Health Library Launchedby EMPHNETWe aim to improve public health practice and research by providing access toinformation through this library. We aim for EEL to be a comprehensive resourcein the EMR, supporting field epidemiologists and public health professionals.Dr. Mohannad Al Nsour, GHD EMPHNET Executive DirectorOn May 11, 2022, and after months ofpreparation, EMPHNET launched its ElectronicLibrary (EEL), adding another milestone in itsjourney to spread public health knowledgeacross the Eastern Mediterranean Region.EEL is a free digital resource dedicated toempowering field epidemiologists and publichealth professionals in the region by providingthem with access to resources and tools thatbenefit their research and practices. It also servesas a space for enhancing the region’s reservoir ofpublic health education and information, which,in the long run, would contribute to bridging theinformation-to-action gap in the region.EEL contains multiple resources, includinge-journals, e-books from different publishers,and a section dedicated to documents publishedby EMPHNET and its partners. This sectionincludes guidelines, manuals, webinar briefs,reports, abstracts, and other literature that isnot published in journals. This unique content,or grey literature, offers a wider scope of contentset to enhance users’ research and work.As part of GHD EMPHNET’s aims to ensurethat the e-library does in fact offer resourcesof relevance to the region’s public healthprofessionals, EEL was also designed toinclude a “Request a Resource” form that userscan fill to request e-books, e-journals, andarticles, among others. This form will also helplibrary administrators to determine the needsof the users and to expand EEL’s collectionsaccordingly.Visit EELApril - June, 2022Page 6

IN FOCUSQUARTERLY NEWSLETTERThe library resources are updated continuously in conjunction with the rapidly changing public healthsituation. Eventually, this will help in advancing public health practices and research by providingprofessionals across the region with access to evidence-based information.Off to a good start, EEL already has 191 active users from 49 countries across the region and beyond,with a collective number of logins exceeding 1564. Within these logins, users accessed a total of 785resources. At this rate, GHD EMPHNET can only anticipate an increase in these figures in the months tocome, bringing the library closer to realizing its vision of becoming the region’s comprehensive publichealth resource.EEL’s team will build partnerships with institutes and libraries to further enhance its resource portfolio andcreate more opportunities for users and researchers in the region to advance their work.Introducing EMPHNET’sElectronic Library for theEastern Mediterranean RegionWatch VideoA Tutorial: Tips on How to UseEMPHNET’s Electronic Library(EEL)Watch VideoApril - June, 2022Page 7

ProjectsRegion’s NITAGs Trained on Process of Making Evidencebased RecommendationsThe global immunization community regards NationalImmunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) animportant in-country resource that provides technicaladvice on vaccine and immunization, while alsocomplementing the roles played by Strategic AdvisoryGroup of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) at the globallevel and the Regional Immunization Technical AdvisoryGroup (RITAGs).In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, GHD EMPHNETis supporting NITAGs in strengthening their role as animportant in-country resource that provides technicaladvice on vaccine and immunization. GHD EMPHNEThelped several countries in developing improvementplans for their NITAGs, and it is currently supportingthe implementation of these plans. As part of thisimplementation, a priority area for improvement isempowering NITAGs in making recommendations basedon evidence for which GHD EMPHNET conducted atraining with support from the WHO and UNICEFThe training took place between June 19 and 23, 2022in Amman, Jordan. The participating NITAGs wereAfghanistan, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya,Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, and Tunisia. NITAG chairsand National Expanded Program on ImmunizationManagers were the participants. First, the trainingprovided an overview on immunization, immunology,vaccination, and vaccines. It then focused on sessionson the recommendation-making process.Know MoreApril - June, 2022Page 8