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SCEPRESSA: Strengthening Capacity for Epidemics Preparedness and Response in sub-Saharan Africa project

Project at a glance

Coordinator: Professor Gideon Mutie Kikuvi, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) – Kenya
Consortium partners: University of Malawi
Country of Fellow: Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda
Grant number: CSA2020E-3129

The Strengthening Capacity for Epidemics Preparedness and Response in sub-Saharan Africa (SCEPRESSA) project will establish an African cohort of epidemiologists by developing knowledge and skills in infectious disease surveillance and response to outbreaks in public health workforce at sub-national and national levels in sub-Saharan African countries. It will also strengthen national public health surveillance systems and thereby provide timely response to outbreaks and other public health emergencies, enhance research capacity in epidemiology across sub-Saharan Africa, and develop a network of highly skilled infectious disease epidemiologists.

The underlying theme of the training in SCEPRESSA is that trainees ‘learn by doing’, hence the training will comprise of 25% blended didactic sessions and 75% practical in-the-field mentored training. During the didactic sessions a combination of lectures, case-oriented problem-solving studies and small group exercises will be used in order to ensure better learning. Partner institutions’ dedicated faculty staff of international repute and experienced field supervisors will deliver the programme in Master of Science Epidemiology and Biostatistics. During the field training the fellows will be mentored with an emphasis on acquisition of skills and competencies.

Following a competitive recruitment process, the Strengthening Capacity for Epidemics Preparedness and Response in sub-Saharan Africa Project (SCEPRESSA) project selected fifteen fellows from seven sub-Saharan African countries: Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.