Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has successfully graduated 27 Chiefdom Supervisors under its Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Light during ceremonies held on March 12th to 13th, 2026, in Kono and Karene districts.
The events took place at the Koidu District Health Management Team (DHMT) headquarters in Kono and the Karene DHMT office in Kamakwie. Both ceremonies opened with Muslim and Christian prayers, reflecting a spirit of unity and inclusivity.
In Kono District, the ceremony was chaired by District Medical Officer, Dr Mohammed G. Sheku, who welcomed participants and commended the NPHA for selecting the district. He underscored the critical importance of timely disease detection and effective surveillance systems, noting that ongoing training for Community Health Workers and traditional healers, supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pandemic Fund, marks significant progress in strengthening community health systems.
A total of 14 Chiefdom Supervisors graduated in Kono, including Madam Agnes M. Bundu, the only female graduate from the district.
The Karene District, Dr Chernor Jalloh, District Medical Officer, chaired the ceremony and congratulated the 13 graduates. He encouraged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired with diligence, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility. Among the graduates was Isatu Tarawa, the only female participant from Karene.
Development partners also delivered remarks highlighting the significance of the programme. Dr. Gebru, FETP Resident Advisor, praised the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) for its technical guidance and mentorship. WHO Representative, Mr. Victor Caulker, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening surveillance at the community level.
Representing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mr. John B. Caulker congratulated the graduates and emphasized that strong health security begins at the frontline, where health workers collect, analyze, and respond to data. He further noted the CDC’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone through a tiered FETP structure-Frontline, Intermediate, and Light-aimed at building resilience and advancing global health priorities.
Although unable to attend due to official engagements abroad, the Executive Director of NPHA, Professor Foday Sahr, conveyed his message through the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Miss Rachael Kuyembeh. In his statement, he congratulated the graduates and described their achievement as both a personal milestone and a national asset. He stressed that the programme is instrumental in embedding surveillance capacity at the chiefdom level and urged graduates to champion evidence-based decision-making in their communities.
The graduation of the 27 supervisors marks another milestone in strengthening Sierra Leone’s public health system, particularly in enhancing early detection and response to disease outbreaks at the grassroots level.
“Epidemiology is the basic science of public health,”- Alexander Langmuir.
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