Rapid virtual training and field deployment for COVID-19 surveillance officers: experiences from Ethiopia

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal Vol. 43; p. 23
• Main Authors: Wang, Shu-Hua, Yimer, Getnet, Bisesi, Michael, Lisawork, Leuel, Sugerman, David, Alayu, Mikias, Wossen, Mesfin, Abayneh, Sisay Alemayehu, Gallaghe, Kayleigh, Endashaw, Tigist, Kubinson, Hannah, Kanter, Theresa, Gallagher, Kathleen, Gebreyes, Wondwossen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The African Field Epidemiology Network 15.09.2022
• Subjects: Program Evaluation
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2022.43.23.28787

Rapid scale-up of surveillance activities is the key to successful coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prevention and mitigation. Ethiopia did not have a sufficient number of active surveillance officers for the public health COVID-19 response. Training of surveillance officers was needed urgently to fill the gap in the workforce needed. Subject-matter experts from the United States and Ethiopia developed applicable training modules including background on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), contact investigation, and communications. The training modules were delivered live in real-time via web-based virtual presentation. Seventy-seven health surveillance officers were hired, trained, and deployed in two weeks to assist with surveillance activities in Ethiopia. Electronic capacity building is needed in order to improve Web-based training in resource-limited settings where internet access is limited or unreliable. Web-based synchronously delivered course was an effective platform for COVID-19 surveillance training. However, strengthening public and private information technology capacity, literacy, and internet availability will improve Web-based education platforms in resource-limited countries.Rapid scale-up of surveillance activities is the key to successful coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic prevention and mitigation. Ethiopia did not have a sufficient number of active surveillance officers for the public health COVID-19 response. Training of surveillance officers was needed urgently to fill the gap in the workforce needed. Subject-matter experts from the United States and Ethiopia developed applicable training modules including background on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), contact investigation, and communications. The training modules were delivered live in real-time via web-based virtual presentation. Seventy-seven health surveillance officers were hired, trained, and deployed in two weeks to assist with surveillance activities in Ethiopia. Electronic capacity building is needed in order to improve Web-based training in resource-limited settings where internet access is limited or unreliable. Web-based synchronously delivered course was an effective platform for COVID-19 surveillance training. However, strengthening public and private information technology capacity, literacy, and internet availability will improve Web-based education platforms in resource-limited countries.