CONDUCTING PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH THROUGH FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGY AND LABORATORY TRAIN

描述（由申请人提供）：非洲人口虽然只占世界人口的12%，但却背负着全球最大的疾病负担。这一点，再加上卫生人力资源严重短缺和财政短缺，导致很大一部分卫生保健资源被转用于治疗性医疗，损害了公共卫生实践。运筹学是公共卫生实践的一个重要组成部分，但它对基于证据的决策至关重要。为了改善非洲的公共卫生做法，已经采用了各种方法。其中之一是在各国建立现场流行病学（和实验室）培训计划（FE(L)TPs）。FE(L)TPs是以能力为基础的培训计划，培训流行病学家和公共卫生实验室人员通过实地工作实习处理其社区中的优先公共卫生问题，实习时间最多占学员时间的70%。非洲现场流行病学网络（AFENET）是非洲现场流行病学项目的网络联盟。有11个成员项目和500多名项目毕业生，非洲的公共卫生实践正在呈现出新的面貌，因为许多这些毕业生留在他们的祖国，在那里他们影响着卫生保健的政策和实践。通过这一项目，我们的目标是促进非洲卫生部的循证公共卫生实践，方法是支持FE(L)TP学员开展研究项目，使他们能够获得能力并处理卫生部的优先事项。更具体地说，我们希望支持非洲各国卫生部通过FE(L)TPs开展业务研究；监察获资助学员的研究项目进展；并促进传播这些项目的研究结果，以促进基于证据的决策。我们预计，这一项目将加强我们与非洲各国卫生部以及其他地方和国际伙伴的现有合作。更重要的是，这是我们通过改进公共卫生做法为改善非洲人健康作出贡献的一个机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Though Africa has only 12% of the world's population, it bears the biggest burden of disease globally. This, coupled with an acute shortage of human resources for health and financial shortages, has caused a large proportion of health care resources to be diverted to curative medical practice, at the expense of public health practice. Operational research, a key component of public health practice has been grossly neglected, yet it is critical for evidence-based decision making. Various approaches have been used in an attempt to improve public health practice in Africa. One of these is the establishment of Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs (FE(L)TPs) in various countries. FE(L)TPs are competency-based training programs that train epidemiologists and public health laboratorians to deal with priority public health issues in their communities through field work placements that take up to 70% of trainees' time. The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a networking alliance of FE(L)TPs in Africa. With 11 member programs and over 500 graduates from the programs, public health practice in Africa is taking on a new face, as many of these graduates remain in their home countries where they influence policy and practice in health care. Through this project, we aim to promote evidence-based public health practice in African Ministries of Health by supporting FE(L)TP trainees to conduct research projects that enable them to attain competences as well as address Ministry of Health priorities. More specifically, we hope to support African Ministries of Health to carry out operational research through FE(L)TPs; monitor the progress of research projects of trainees supported by this grant; and promote the dissemination of the findings of such projects to promote evidence-based decision-making. We anticipate that this project will strengthen our existing collaboration with African Ministries of Health, and other local and international partners. More importantly, it is an opportunity for us to make a contribution towards improving the health of Africans through improved public health practice.