On December 19, 2024, the Department of Epidemiology at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) of the Universitas Indonesia (UI), specifically the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), hosted a visit for a potential collaboration from the Centre for Field Epidemic Intelligence, Research and Professional Development (CFEIR) of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Japan. The visit to FPH UI was accompanied by representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Directorate of Surveillance and Health Quarantine of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, as well as the Secretariat of FETP Indonesia. The purpose of this visit was to share experiences in managing the FETP and explore opportunities for collaboration between FETP UI and FETP Japan in strengthening field epidemiology capacity, particularly in outbreak response and infectious disease research.
FETP is a professional training program in field epidemiology designed to prepare health professionals, especially epidemiologists, to handle outbreaks and infectious diseases with evidence-based skills. This program has been implemented in various countries, including Japan, with the aim of enhancing the ability to detect, investigate, and respond to public health issues.
In Indonesia, FETP has become a key pillar in strengthening field epidemiology capacity, one of which is managed by the Department of Epidemiology at FPH UI. FETP UI has trained a number of field epidemiologists who play significant roles in controlling both infectious and non-infectious diseases in various regions across Indonesia.
“We greatly appreciate this opportunity to share experiences and knowledge in managing the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) with our colleagues from Japan. We believe that the forthcoming collaboration between FETP University of Indonesia and FETP Japan will strengthen our capacity in addressing the challenges of field epidemiology, especially in disaster-related epidemiology. We hope that this discussion will open the door to closer cooperation that will not only benefit both parties but also make a meaningful contribution to global public health,” said the Dean of FPH UI, Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc., welcoming the guests from CFEIR.
The main points discussed between both parties included sharing experiences in the implementation of the FETP program in both countries, with each side presenting their experiences and best practices in running the program. The program’s implementation covers the participant recruitment process, curriculum, practical training, and ways to enhance community engagement in public health responses. Additionally, collaboration opportunities were discussed, including knowledge exchange, shared training programs that would enrich participants’ expertise from both countries, and joint publications, which CFEIR also sees as an opportunity. Furthermore, collaboration in enhancing field response capacities to meet the growing global health challenges, such as infectious disease outbreaks and pandemic threats, was also a key topic of discussion.
This visit is expected to pave the way for a closer relationship between FETP UI and FETP Japan, as well as make a significant contribution to improving the quality of training and professional development in the field of field epidemiology. It is hoped that this collaboration will strengthen Indonesia’s capacity in addressing future public health challenges, particularly in responding to increasingly complex outbreaks.
This exploratory collaboration visit is an important step in strengthening professional networks in the field of field epidemiology and public health. Additionally, through this collaboration, it is expected that an international network will be created to support research, training, and the development of global health policies. The exchange of knowledge between Indonesia and Japan will have a positive impact on the development of epidemiological capacity, which in turn will support more effective disease control and public health protection.
Attending from FPH UI in the meeting were Dean Prof. dr. Mondastri Korib Sudaryo, M.S., D.Sc.; Secretary of the Ph.D. Program in Epidemiology, Dr. dr. Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono, M.Sc.; Head of the Master’s Program in Epidemiology, Dr. dr. Helda, M.Kes.; Secretary of the Master’s Program in Epidemiology, dr. Yovsyah, M.Kes.; and Secretary of the Master’s Program in Public Health, who is also a Lecturer at the Department of Epidemiology, Rizka Maulida, S.K.M., M.Hsc., Ph.D. Meanwhile, from CFEIR, Tomimasa Sunagawa, Director of CFEIR; Keiko Tsukada, Research Scientist at CFEIR; Azusa Takahashi and Shimpei Murai, FETP Trainees at CFEIR, along with Shingo Nishiki, Expert for Surveillance from JICA, were present. (wrk)