Support to COVID-19 response in Kenya by FELTP trained veterinary epidemiologists

Since 2009, the Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (K-FELTP) division in the Ministry of Health has been training national and county level officers from the Directorate of Veterinary Services in Field Epidemiology. To date at-least 30 veterinary officers have been trained in advanced level epidemiology under FELTP and more than 50 have been trained in basic epidemiology competences at county level.

These officers have gained valuable expertise in outbreak investigation and response, collaboration with public health services under the one health approach and field surveillance. Some of these officers were involved in contact tracing, field surveillance and data management during the 2015 Ebola threat; valuable skills that can come to play as we work to control the current outbreak. Currently, some veterinary officers under FELTP training and at the Zoonotic Disease Unit are involved in contact tracing and data management for the COVID -19 response. In support of the long-standing collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the Directorate of Veterinary Services through the Zoonotic Disease Unit, the DVS wishes to offer support to COVID 19 response activities.

The FELTP trained veterinary officers are available for engagement at both county and national levels. The officers located at national and county levels and can be mobilized to support the ongoing COVID-19 control efforts, can be contacted through the Zoonotic Disease Unit for deployment.

In view of this, and within the One Health perspective, you may consider recommending the inclusion of Director of Veterinary Services in the National Emergency Response Committee.

I wish you all the best in the current prevention and control efforts.

Source:
Dr Obadiah Njagi, PhD
Director Veterinary Services (Kenya)