Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) and the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) have partnered to provide health workers an opportunity to be trained and attain career advancement in field epidemiology. DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) curriculum. The MOU allows FETP students to earn a master's degree in recognition of their training, leading to career growth.
According to Philippines News Agency, the FETP is a two-year training program by the DOH's Epidemiology Bureau that equips health workers through the 'learning by doing' approach. It includes intensive coursework on epidemiologic methods, public health surveillance, outbreak investigation, scientific communication, and leadership. The program also involves fieldwork where trainees apply their knowledge in conducting epidemiologic studies such as outbreak investigations and field surveys, surveillance system development and evaluation, and planned epidemiologic studies, operational research, and oral or poster presentations in various local and international scientific forums.
'We saw the true value of the FETP during the Covid-19 pandemic. Their contributions have improved the country's ability to respond to public health emergencies,' Herbosa said in a news release on Monday. 'By integrating the FETP curriculum with a higher education institution, we are ensuring sustainability and academic excellence,' he added.
'We thank the Secretary of Health for trusting the University of the Philippines Manila, in particular, our College of Public Health, to create a program that will lead to a competent health workforce,' Tee said. 'Together, we are building the foundation for a future less vulnerable to the threat of a devastating pandemic. Our goal will be to prevent the loss of lives and mitigate socio-economic impact through a predict, detect, respond, and recover framework.'
Health professionals holding permanent government posts may apply for the program. Currently, the program is only recognized as equivalent to a master's degree within the DOH system for promotion and professional recognition. Under the MOU, health professionals trained under FETP will receive a master's degree in Public Health, with a major in Applied Epidemiology. The MOU also allows collaborative research and discussions on public health strategies between the DOH and UP Manila for faster translation of research into public health policy.
