Maldives strengthens Disease Surveillance and Field Epidemiology capacities

5 August 2024 - Highlights: The Republic of Maldives has long been at the forefront of monitoring and managing infectious diseases through a well-established disease surveillance system. This system meticulously collects data on the incidence of individuals developing infectious diseases as identified in the country's Notifiable Diseases List. However, with the rise in non-communicable diseases and the increasing frequency of public health events driven by climate change and flooding, there is an urgent need to expand the surveillance and analytics efforts to address these health threats as well.
 

The necessity for a comprehensive surveillance system is underscored by Maldives' dependence on tourism, a substantial expatriate workforce, and with the country being a hub for international travelers. This heightened connectivity with other countries renders Maldives more vulnerable to the introduction and spread of various infectious diseases. To counter these threats, it is imperative to enhance the existing surveillance systems and bolster the country’s capacity to conduct thorough epidemiological investigations and respond effectively to disease outbreaks and other public health events.
 

Recognizing this need, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Maldives, in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO), has developed a National Action Plan on Field Epidemiology. This ambitious five-year plan outlines three primary objectives: the establishment of a Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), advocacy to elevate the importance of field epidemiology, and the training and recruitment of skilled personnel. These objectives aim to institutionalize regular training in field epidemiology, integrating them into the national systems to create clear career paths for professionals in this field.
 

The first workshop of this training focused on learning basic skills through interactive sessions. This first workshop is succeeded by the participants undertaking field placement and a project, ensuring a comprehensive and practical learning experience. WHO will be working with HPA to support the subsequent steps of the training including the second and third workshops, which will be based on the insights gained from the field placement. This course will serve as a Training of Trainers session, aimed at roll-out of the next steps for implementing the National Action Plan on FETP.

In addition to these training initiatives, WHO is aiding the digitalization of the Maldives surveillance system, currently in its pilot phase. The integration of a digital platform is a key topic during the training sessions, emphasizing its role in enhancing data collection and analysis capabilities.

With the support from WHO's Regional Office for South-East Asia (SEARO), WHO Country Office, and partners such as the Thai FETP program, Maldives aims to develop a cadre of local experts in field epidemiology. These efforts will strengthen the nation's capacity for outbreak investigation, surveillance, and disease control and also establish an in-country roster of trainers capable of perpetuating the crucial trainings to build capacities of public health workforce. This multi-faceted approach will support the Maldives to be resilient in the face of both current and emerging public health challenges.

This article is first published at WHO Maldives website on Maldives strengthens Disease Surveillance and Field Epidemiology capacities

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