By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/ Umoja Standard.
Munyonyo, Uganda: Makerere School of Public Health in partnership with Ministry of Health and Centre for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) has graduated 14 Field Epidemiology Cohort 2021,
The 14 graduates bright the total of Field Epidemiology to 79 countrywise.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony at Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo.
Dr. Julie Harris- the Resident Advisor and Field Epidemiology Trainner told this website that the epidemiology program is geared towards equipping frontliners with relevant skills of responding to epidemics from the grassroot.
She revealed ‘the program is meant to empower and avail human resources who will fight and prevent epidemics and detect disease outbreaks in Uganda’.
According to World Health Organization requires that one epidemiology should handle 2000 people.
Dr. Yonas Tegegn woldermariam- the World Health Organization Representative for Uganda highlighted that having good public health services in the country is the first right step in reducing the spread of diseases and outbreaks.
In this, Dr. Yonas urged Ugandan government to invest in public health promotions aimed at improving the health services in the country in a bid to prevent and control epidemics.
He added that there is also a need government to sensitize and educate the public on the importance of good medication as self-medication was on rise during Covid-19.
It is against this background that thgere should be a good National drug Authority regulation on the use of drugs as this will help increase the confidence of patients and desist from the vice.
Speaking to Umoja Standard, Dr Patience Mwine- one who emerged best female student lauded the program for exposing her to different areas in the area of study and discover new skills of handling epidemics wherever they occur.
The graduation that was held on Friday at Speke Resort Munyonyo was conducted under the theme ” Improving public health across the spectrum”.