Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) in-conjunction with Disease Surveillance and Response Unit (DSRU) and Global Implementation Solutions (GIS) conducted a basic level field Epidemiology training for health care workers with support from CDC Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Fund grant. The goal of the training was to improve detection, surveillance, reporting and data management skills for the healthcare workers based at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Kenya Prisons, and Points of Entry (POE) at both the county and national levels, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were drawn from 15 counties supported by CDC to establish EOCs, and the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS). The counties include: Marsabit, Garissa, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Kitui, Makueni, Kiambu, Mombasa, Busia, Homabay, Migori, Siaya, Kisumu, Nakuru and Kisii.

Course 1 training was conducted between 26th and 30th July 2021 in Machakos County. After successfully completing course 1, all the participants were expected to collect surveillance data on COVID-19 or surveillance data on a health condition relevent at their sub-county. This is a requirement before attending Course 2.

Course 2 training was also conducted in Machakos County, between 23rd and 27th August 2021. This course involved didactics, case studies, analysis of field project data, Microsoft excel sessions and preparation of outputs from the field project. After successfully completing the second course, the participants developed scientific presentations on the respective field projects with technical support from supervisors in the FELTP program. The field projects addressed problems of public health significance at the county level with focus on data quality and evidence-based recommendations.

The third course, course 2.5, was a physical dissemination of the field projects to the FELTP program and stakeholders, held from 22nd to 24th September 2021 in Machakos County. Each of the participants disseminated their field project findings, and discussions were held on the implementation of the evidence-based recommendations and application of competency based skills acquired during the training at the county level.

Each of the participants who completed the training was issued with a certificate.