Training Epidemiologists and Biostatisticians for enhanced response to disease outbreak and epidemic in West-Africa

Sub-saharan Africa is suffering from unavailability or severely limited reliable epidemiological data and settings for public health. This is further aggravated by a shortage of skilled personnel in epidemiology and biostatistics to efficiently monitor, analyse and interpret data to inform policy and decision making. By 2063, the first aspiration of the Africa Union is to build a prosperous Africa based on inclusive and sustainable development (African Union Commission, 2015). Two of the expected outcomes for this aspiration are: (i) African people have high level and quality of life, a good health and well-being and (ii) citizens are well trained and sufficiently qualified having as support the science, technology, and innovation. The centrality of good health to well-being is expressed in the global recognition of health as a basic human right and in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which is to "ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages". Epidemiology and biostatistics stand at the core of this great goal. From 2014 to 2019, sub-Saharan Africa has faced various epidemics of which the Ebola epidemic caused important human loss in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. From 2019, the COVID-19 outbreak caused dramatic loss of lives, social and economic damages in the world, and controlling its spread and impacts has been the main worldwide challenge. The need to fill the shortage of skilled personnel in epidemiology and biostatistics has lead to the project "Training Epidemiologists and Biostatisticians for enhanced response to disease outbreak and epidemic in West- Africa". The overall aim is to enhance West-Africa's research capacity in epidemiology and biostatistics to efficiently respond to disease outbreaks and emerging (and re-emerging) infectious diseases. Specifically, the project aims to (i) train fifteen skilled postgraduate biostatisticians and infectious disease epidemiologists in West Africa; (ii) strengthen the ability of young scientists from West African countries to manage epidemic disease outbreaks and (iii) strengthen regional and international cooperation in biostatistics and epidemiological research. The project offers two regional qualified two-year Master of Science programmes in epidemiology and biostatistics, respectively with opportunity for credit seeking through the distance learning platform of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The project's consortium includes one sub-Saharan country (Benin) and one participating state (United Kingdom). The programmes aim to teach up to date knowledge about determinants of health, responses to diseases, mitigation of environmental problems and successful policies. In addition, the priority will be to make sure that knowledge is valued as a global public good and disseminated quickly, effectively, widely, and is freely accessible. The curricula includes a six-month research component. In year one, curricula of the two Master's programmes was improved. Fifteen students from eight countries (Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Guinea, and Liberia) were selected and registered in the Master's programmes, among which there are seven women and eight men. They have all successfully completed the first year of the programme and been admitted to the second year. They have also been paired with experienced mentors for the project duration. By the end of the first year, research projects were discussed with the Fellows and their home institutions to ensure that topics are relevant for their home country, but also the West-Africa region. In year two, the Fellows took lectures in their respective programmes and one additional class with LSHTM in the frame of a distance learning programme. They had relaxation time with the project coordination team where they (i) shared their thoughts about the project and its implementation, and (ii) learned success stories from the project team members who are renowned scientists in the field of biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health. A workshop on mentoring was held for the Fellows and their mentors. The TEBWA fellows were also trained in writing a research proposal, drafting a scientific article, and making impactful communication during a conference. They have also been trained on how to successfully conduct a systematic review. The TEBWA fellows also presented their research proposals and received comments and advice from the project team members. They are currently implementing their projects, the outputs of which are relevant for regional and global public health. The TEBWA fellows have also joined at least two relevant scholar societies for at least three years. Each TEBWA fellow was also supported to take additional online courses (MOOC). All TEBWA fellows will attend the Eleventh EDCTP Forum (November, 2023). More details on the project can be found here: http://tebwa.labef-uac.org/.