African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) 8478 views

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a Network of public health training institutions in Africa that seeks to strengthen manpower to enhance health systems on the continent. AFENET is a not-for-profit organization which works closely with Ministries of Health in member countries to develop sustainable programs and capacity to strengthen field epidemiology and ensure healthier lives for Africans.AFENET was established in 2005 with four member programs in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe. At the time of approval of this plan, the organization was operateing in 16 African countries namely: Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe.The organization has also recorded a growing international partner base which includes the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Merck Company Foundation, the World Health Organization, the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), the European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the International Association of Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), the Task Force for Global Health Survival and Development (TFCSD), the Emory School of Medicine, Emory School of Public Health, and the Training in Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), among others.

GOAL

To strengthen field epidemiology and public health laboratory capacity and effectively contribute to addressing epidemics and other major public health problems in Africa.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

AFENET’s overall objective is to improve the capacity of health systems in Africa to manage disease outbreaks and other priority health problems. This will be achieved through the following specific strategic objectives:

• Strengthening field epidemiology capacity in Africa
• Enhancing public health and laboratory capacity in Africa
• Strengthening surveillance and outbreak response systems for communicable and Non- Communicable Diseases
• Advancing the sharing of regional expertise in field epidemiology and laboratories
• Strengthening the capacity of AFENET to achieve its objectives
• Documenting and disseminating AFENET’s field experiences to member programs

MISSION

AFENET is committed to ensuring effective prevention and control of epidemics and other priority public health problems in Africa.

VISION

A healthier Africa