As part of efforts to reinforce epidemic preparedness and response, Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Health has graduated 25 frontline officers under the 18th cohort of the Field Epidemiology Training Program, equipping them with critical skills in disease surveillance, early detection and outbreak investigation.https://www.path.org/what-we-do/health-systems-strengthening/epidemic-preparedness-and-response/
The Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso, through its Field Epidemiology Training Program, has graduated 25 frontline officers drawn from the ministries in charge of health, animal resources, environment, security and defense. The graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Ouagadougou under the chairmanship of the Minister of Health, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Adjima Combary.
The training received technical support from the World Health Organization, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and African Field Epidemiology Network. Participants were trained in key areas related to epidemic prevention and health risk management, including early detection, epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation and database analysis.
Speaking during the ceremony, Dr. Adjima Combary noted that the Field Epidemiology Training Program has been operational since 2016 and has already trained 523 officers. He described the achievement as “a significant step forward” in strengthening the country’s capacity to prevent and manage public health threats.
He urged the graduates to apply the skills acquired during the training in support of public health interventions across the country. According to him, their field investigations and active participation in response activities will contribute significantly to strengthening public health action. He further emphasized that the graduates represent a new generation of professionals capable of addressing emerging and re-emerging diseases through a multisectoral approach.
For the representative of the 18th cohort, Dr. Raymond Gbangou, the program serves as an important tool for strengthening the capacities of officers involved in disease surveillance and emergency response. He described the training as demanding but highly rewarding, noting that it brought together professionals from different sectors under the One Health approach.
“This training will help us ensure better surveillance of epidemic-prone diseases and unusual public health events,” he said.
Technical and financial partners also expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the program. The WHO representative, Dr. Minzah Étienne Pekele, stressed the importance of building a critical mass of qualified personnel capable of responding to growing health threats affecting
humans, animals and the environment.
Meanwhile, the representative of the United States Ambassador, Dr. Annicet Dahourou, congratulated the Ministry of Health for the successful implementation of the training. He highlighted that the program is internationally recognized and certified, adding that Burkina Faso is among the few countries to have obtained such certification.
“All trained participants will be registered in an international database,” he stated, underscoring the global recognition of the program and its graduates.
Ornéla ZANGA/ lefaso.net
