Zambia has shortage of epidemiologists
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Loading... - Maeva Claude
- 07 Oct 2022
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ZAMBIA has 24 qualified field epidemiologists and 235 frontline field epidemiologists making it difficult for the country to effectively investigate and prepare for emerging pandemics. Health Advisor to the President and Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Director General Roma Chiyengi said in an interview that the country needs more epidemiologists owing to the emerging health challenges. “For frontline field epidemiologists, we have done 235 and we are hoping to increase that number. But the advanced field epidemiology training is a Master’s degree level, those, are only a handful of them, they are only 24,’’ he said.
He said ZNPHI wants to give the field of epidemiology top priority as the country needs a pool of experts to respond to various pandemics with ease. Asked on the exact number of epidemiologists the country requires, the Prof. said he would have to work in collaboration with his technical staff before giving out the exact deficit. Earlier, Prof. Chiengi officiated at a two-day Alumni conference for the Zambia field epidemiology training programme saying the Government wants to see Zambia become a Centre of excellence in addressing matters of intelligence, surveillance and response to pandemics. “I want to end by challenging us to imagine a Zambia and future where the porogramme of disease intelligence, surveillance and preparedness is fully functional,” he said. He said the health system has transitioned and many lifestyle changes are bringing a lot of challenges to the health system.
“The Outbreak of Covid-19 has also taught us many lessons,’’ he said. He has also challenged the epidemiologists to help find a lasting solution to road traffic carnages in the country. “Get to the problem, do background investigations, find the root cause and also recommend plans on how to mitigate this,’’ he said. Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary in charge of technical services Lackson Kasonka said Government through ZNPHI has priotised public health security to safeguard the well-being of all Zambians. Read More...
