MFETP 3rd cohort trainees with Dr Wiwat R., WHO Representative, Dr Nyamkhuu, Director-General of NCCD and other NCCD, WHO and MFETP staff

Introductory course for third year of the training was planned for 1.5 months in duration to be organized in two blocks with one month at the first month of training and half month at seventh month after training initiation.

One month classroom training was initiated on 9 Jan 2012 and completed on 10 Feb, 2012. The introductory course topics were revised in accordance with experiences and lessons learnt from the previous two years of training programme and it has included topics such as introduction to epidemiology and biostatistics, outbreak investigation, public health surveillance, epidemiology of communicable diseases and other issues of public health importance, and lastly introduction and use of epidemiologic software. Lectures and case studies were conducted by the Mongolian FETP 1^st and 2^nd cohort graduates and WHO officers. Professor P.Nymadawa and other experts were invited to give lecture on specific topics, which included ILI sentinel surveillance in Mongolia.

Dr Wiwat Rojayanapithayakorn, WHO Representative in Mongolia has given lectures to the trainees. One of his lectures on “How can FETP trainee develop an international programme?” was an inspiration to the trainees and audiences where Dr Wiwat has shared his experience of developing internationally recognized programme called “100%CUP” as an FETP trainee, which has been implemented successfully in Thailand saving millions of lives and later expanded to international communities.

We are pleased to announce the opportunity to submit mini grant proposals for unintentional injury non-research projects. Countries are welcome to submit multiple proposals. Please be sure to follow the proposal guidelines (attached). These projects should focus on some area of unintentional injury. This may include (but is not limited to) developing injury surveillance systems, analyzing and reporting injury surveillance data, or implementing and evaluating prevention efforts (e.g., road safety, prevention of injuries to children).

Please be sure to include (1) a descriptive title of the proposed project, (2) the name, address and e-mail address of the principal investigator; (3) anticipated impact of the project; and (4) the names of participating institutions (e.g., Ministry of Health, university).

Please apply online via the TEPHINET website at the following link: http://www.tephinet.org/content/unintentional-injury-mini-grant-application

Note: You must create an account at www.tephinet.org and be logged in to access the application form.

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 24, 2012

If you have any questions about your projects acceptability for funding or general technical questions about your project that you would like help with before submitting, please email those to: zzb0@cdc.gov . If you have any questions about how to submit the application online, please email: dsalas@tephinet.org.

You will have 5 months to complete your project, once it is awarded. We anticipate funding no more than 4-5 projects, and the average award is expected to be approximately $5,000 USD.

Regards,

TEPHINET Team, in collaboration with CDC/NCIPC

via Call for Applications to Injury Mini-Grants | TEPHINET.

2nd cohort graduates with Dr Khurelbaatar, Dr Wiwat and other NCCD, NCIDNF, WHO and MFETP staff

After 1 year of training and hard work, our 10 fellows are graduated as 2^nd cohort of Field Epidemiologists on December 2, 2011 at the Conference Hall of Ministry of Health. For this special event, Dr Khurelbaatar, State Secretary of MOH, Dr Wiwat R., WHO Representative in Mongolia, were invited as distinguished guests and other relevant organization representatives, advisory committee members, teachers and instructors were invited as well.

Upon inauguration of the ceremony, Dr N.Khurelbaatar, the programme director, introduced the audience how the programme started in Mongolia with firstly joint MOH/WHO assessment, proposal development and submission in 2007-2008. After the proposal has been approved by WPRO, MOH established advisory committee and MFETP office in NCCD in 2009 with initiation of its first cohort with 8 fellows and with 10 fellows in 2^nd year. He remarked that political commitment, technical and financial support from MOH, NCCD and WHO ensured the sustainability of the programme and starting from 3^rd cohort NCCD will start implement the programme on their own with guidance and support from MOH and WHO.

Dr Wiwat R., WHO representative in Mongolia, expressed sincere gratitude to MOH and NCCD for their leadership and facilitation of MFETP. He shared with audience his experience and memory of studying in Thailand FETP, first FETP which was conducted outside US, and gave accent to the training principle of “learning by doing”. He also highlighted that WHO’s full commitment in continued support for strengthening disease surveillance system and improving capacity of the public health emergency preparedness and response in Mongolia.

This was followed by Dr Dapeng L., Medical epidemiologist of WHO Mongolia, speech. On behalf of MFETP instructors and supervisors, he described MFETP field work experience. Specifically, he highlighted the second cohort officers’ hard work and team work spirit.

Subsequently, Dr Khurelbaatar handed over MOH/WHO joint Certificate of Achievement of MFETP to ten graduates. On behalf of 10 graduates, Dr Ts.Narangarav acknowledged MOH for opportunities to study in MFETP and WHO for its technical and financial support throughout the training. She underlined graduates assurance on continuous use of knowledge and competencies obtained in MFETP at their workplace and in future career development.

2nd cohort graduates with Drs Wiwat R. and Dapeng L., WHO Mongolia

At the end, the following six officers, who were recruited for third cohort, have been introduced to audience by Dr Enkhtuya, Project Officer of MFETP:

1. B. Bolor epidemiologist, NCIDNF,
2. G. Ganbaatar, epidemiologist, NCCD, EPI department
3. B. Munkhzul, epidemiologist, NCCD, EWAR unit
4. B. Otgonchimeg, epidemiologist, the National Center for Maternal and Child Health
5. B. Batdorj, epidemiologist, health department of Khuvsgul province
6. T. Baasanjav, epidemiologist, health department of Khovd province