African Field Epidemiology Network

African Field Epidemiology Network
Name	African Field Epidemiology Network
Abbreviation	AFENET
Formation	2005
Type	Non-profit network
Purpose	Field epidemiology, public health capacity
Region	Africa
Headquarters	Kampala, Uganda
Leader title	Executive Director

African Field Epidemiology Network

The African Field Epidemiology Network provides field epidemiology training and outbreak response coordination across Africa. It supports national public health institutes such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Kenya Medical Research Institute, and Uganda Virus Research Institute while engaging with regional bodies like the African Union and the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. AFENET works alongside global institutions including the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen workforce capacity and disease surveillance.

Overview

AFENET is a network of field epidemiology training programs tied to institutions such as the Makerere University School of Public Health, University of Pretoria, and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. It connects ministries such as the Ministry of Health (Uganda), the Ministry of Health (Nigeria), and the Ministry of Health (Kenya) with academic partners including Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The network complements agencies like the United States Agency for International Development, Global Fund, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance while engaging with laboratory systems such as Institut Pasteur and KEMRI. AFENET operates in collaboration with emergency programs like PHEIC responses and regional networks such as the Southeast African Health Community and the East African Community.

History and Development

AFENET emerged during a period of expanding field epidemiology capacity influenced by programs such as the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Founding partners included institutions like Makerere University, KEMRI, and CDC Foundation with initial support from donors such as the Rockefeller Foundation and USAID. Early milestones involved formal agreements with the African Union Commission and technical collaboration with WHO Regional Office for Africa and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. The network’s expansion paralleled initiatives like the Global Health Security Agenda and national reforms following outbreaks in countries including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

Governance and Funding

AFENET’s governance framework includes a board composed of representatives from public health schools such as Makerere University School of Public Health, national bodies like the NCDC, and international partners like the CDC and WHO. Funding streams have consisted of grants from organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, CDC, Wellcome Trust, and multilateral sources such as the World Bank and African Development Bank. Financial oversight aligns with standards from entities such as UNAIDS and procurement practices used by UNICEF and UNDP. Key governance links have been forged with institutions like Tulane University and Emory University through memoranda of understanding.

Programs and Activities

AFENET conducts outbreak investigations in response to events like the Ebola virus disease outbreaks, cholera outbreaks, and measles epidemics while supporting surveillance systems for diseases including tuberculosis, malaria, and Lassa fever. It implements laboratory strengthening in collaboration with facilities such as Institut Pasteur de Dakar and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (South Africa), and supports immunization campaigns tied to initiatives by Gavi and WHO Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. AFENET also contributes to antimicrobial resistance efforts alongside the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System and conducts operational research in partnership with organizations like MSF and PATH.

Training and Capacity Building

The network runs Field Epidemiology Training Programs modeled after the Epidemic Intelligence Service and patterned after programs at CDC and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Training cohorts have been hosted by universities such as Makerere University, University of Ibadan, and University of Nairobi and include modules developed with Johns Hopkins and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. AFENET supports short courses in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response and long-term fellowships that mirror curricula from Epicentre and FETP. Alumni have taken leadership roles in institutions like NCDC (Nigeria), Kenya Medical Research Institute, and ministries in Rwanda and Zambia.

Partnerships and Collaborations

AFENET partners with global health actors including World Health Organization, CDC, UNICEF, USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO Regional Office for Africa, and African Union. It collaborates with academic partners such as Makerere University, University of Pretoria, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Technical alliances extend to laboratories like Institut Pasteur, KEMRI, and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (South Africa), and to non-governmental organizations such as MSF, PATH, and the Red Cross. Regional engagement includes coordination with the East African Community, Economic Community of West African States, and the Southern African Development Community.

Impact and Criticism

Impact metrics cite thousands of trained epidemiologists placed in ministries such as Ministry of Health (Uganda), Ministry of Health (Kenya), and Ministry of Health (Nigeria), improved outbreak detection during episodes like the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, and contributions to surveillance improvements seen in countries including Tanzania, Ghana, and Senegal. Criticisms have focused on sustainability debates similar to those raised about Global Health Security Agenda projects, donor dependency concerns paralleling critiques of PEPFAR and Global Fund programs, and questions about national ownership echoed in discussions around health systems strengthening and decentralization reforms in countries like Nigeria and Uganda. Evaluations have referenced standards used by WHO and lessons from responses to events such as the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic.

Category:Public health organizations