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MPHEBDOER: Masters’ Programme in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with Specialization in Disease Outbreak and Epidemic Response in sub-Saharan Africa

Project at a glance

Coordinator: Professor Olufunmilayo Fawole, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Consortium partners: College of Medicine – University of Ibadan, Cardiff University, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine
Country of Fellow:
Grant number: CSA2020E-3134

The objective of the MPHEBDOER project is to train a cohort of epidemiologists and biostatisticians across sub-Saharan Africa, who can collectively conduct routine surveillance, conduct public health research and respond timely to disease outbreaks. These early to mid-career researchers will enhance the public health workforce capacity in National Public Health Institutes and National Ministries of Health to enable them to respond to outbreaks promptly.

Nigeria’s Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics is well-positioned to provide competency-based training for Africans based on its 20-year track record of postgraduate training. The proposed Master of Science in Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology and Biostatistics will be supported by a consortium of academic and public health institutions, in order to facilitate knowledge and competency-based training through a blended approach involving virtual and in-person modalities. This home-grown training will result in lower cost, better retention of graduates in sub-Saharan Africa region, and an instructional focus and context that is relevant to each country.

Upon completion of the programme, the fellows are expected to: be skilled in infectious disease epidemiology concepts, have good research capacity in epidemiology and biostatistics, be prepared to analyse data and manage epidemic disease outbreaks, and produce forecasts and analytics to support public health decision making. They should also have enhanced research capacity in poverty-related diseases and in clinical trials across Africa. The fellows will commit to remaining in Africa for a minimum of two years after completing their studies.