BANGLADESH FETP
PLATFORM
The Field Epidemiology Training Program, Bangladesh (FETP, B) is a competency based training program established to strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and evidence based public health action. The program was initiated in 2013 through collaboration between the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), based on the global Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) model. FETP provides a ‘mentored, learning-by-doing approach that emphasizes fieldwork’, combining face-to-face modules with field training.
Since its establishment, FETP, B has developed a skilled public health workforce through field-based learning, structured didactic sessions, practical assignments, and mentorship. Trainees develop and demonstrate their epidemiologic skills by investigating outbreaks, evaluating surveillance systems, analyzing public health data, conducting applied epidemiologic studies, and translating findings into public health action.
The setup of FETP Bangladesh offers a multi-tiered training structure that caters to various levels of expertise and career stages in public health including both medical and veterinary professionals. In Bangladesh, FETP was launched as two-year advanced program in 2013. In 2015, the two-month Frontline program began, and in 2022 the twelve-month Intermediate program initiated.
The advanced program (2 years) provides in-depth training, while the intermediate (9-12 months) and frontline (2 months) programs offer shorter, focused courses. This tiered approach ensures that a wide range of public health professionals can benefit from the program, from those seeking intensive training to those needing quick, targeted skills development.
FETP Advanced provides intensive training in applied field epidemiology for public health professionals working at the national level, who lead or support outbreak investigations, surveillance activities, epidemiologic studies, and other public health responses.
FETP Intermediate builds more advanced applied epidemiology skills among public health professionals, with emphasis on surveillance, outbreak investigation, data analysis, and other field-based activities.
FETP Frontline focuses on developing foundational skills among frontline health workers for detecting, reporting, and responding to public health events.
The program has contributed to strengthening Bangladesh’s public health workforce and national capacity to detect, investigate, and respond to outbreaks and other public health emergencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FETP, B fellows played an important role in the national response, contributing to case investigation and contact tracing, surveillance and data management, risk assessment, infection prevention and control, and the development and implementation of public health response measures across different levels of the health system.
With fieldwork constituting 80% of the program, FETP, B fellows have extensive experience in outbreak investigations, conducting on average between 6 to 10 investigations over two years. These investigations cover a range of public health issues, including infectious diseases, lead poisoning, diarrheal diseases, food poisoning, and mass psychogenic illness, including among refugees in Cox’s Bazar. This hands-on experience equips fellows with critical skills in managing diverse health crises. In addition, FETP, B fellows produce a range of key deliverables, including surveillance data analysis reports, surveillance evaluation reports, epidemiological study protocols, outbreak investigation reports, scientific manuscripts, and conference presentations. These deliverables document findings from their field activities and contribute to generating and disseminating evidence to inform public health decision-making.
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Associate Professor, & Technical Advisor, FETP,B Intermediate, IEDCR, Dhaka
Country Director, Safetynet & Technical Advisor, FETP, Nepal
Assistant Director, Disease Control, DGHS
Senior Lecturer, Australian National University, FETP, Australia
Senior Scientific Officer, IEDCR
Curator, IEDCR & Resident Advisor FETPB (Advanced)
Epidemiologist, state health department, Tennessee, USA
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, (UH&FPO), Manohorganj, Comilla
Ex Deputy Civil Surgeon, Cumilla, OSD DGHS, Humphrey fellow, USA
Deputy Program Manager, Maternal, neonatal, child and Adolscent Health (MNC&AH), DGHS
Upazila Livestock Officer (ULO) (LR) Attach-Epidemiology unit in DLS
Upazila Livestock Officer (ULO), Mithamoin, Kishoreganj, Currently Kagoshima University, Japan
Medical Officer, IEDCR & TA FETPB (Advanced)
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, (UH&FPO), Bishomborpur, Sunamganj
Upazila Livestock Officer (ULO), Sadar, Feni
Upazila Livestock Officer (ULO), Kalapara, Patuakhali
Assitant Surgeon, OSD, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Assitant Surgeon, OSD, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Assitant Surgeon, OSD, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Assitant Surgeon, OSD, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
