Amman, Sept. 10 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), celebrated the graduation of two new cohorts from the Jordan Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) and a class from the Public Health Empowerment Program (PHEP) during a ceremony held Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters.
Representing the Minister of Health, Dr. Raed Al-Shboul, Secretary-General for Primary Health Care and Epidemics, described the FETP as a strategic national investment in human capital that equips Jordan with skilled professionals to detect and respond to outbreaks. He stressed that Jordan is proud of its graduates, who played a frontline role during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to strengthen the country’s resilience to health emergencies.
Al-Shboul highlighted that the program, established in 1998, has consistently produced specialists capable of managing epidemics and public health crises, while its partnership with EMPHNET since 2011 has ensured continuity and expansion through technical and training support. He also noted that the program’s formal recognition under Community Medicine by the Jordan Medical Council represents an important step toward sustainability and high-quality outcomes.
Dr. Yousef Al-Qaoud, Director of the Center of Excellence for Applied Epidemiology at EMPHNET, said the program’s success reflects a long-term investment in people, laying the foundation for a resilient health system. He described the graduates as future leaders in public health and emphasized the strong Ministry–EMPHNET partnership, which has enabled Jordan to influence regional capacity building. Similar programs have since been established in Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Tunisia with Jordanian support.
Al-Qaoud explained that EMPHNET has actively contributed to curriculum development, digital training, and the dissemination of graduates’ research at national and regional levels. He reaffirmed the network’s commitment to sustaining its collaboration with the Ministry to build a new generation of public health leaders.
Since its launch, the Jordan FETP has graduated 129 epidemiologists, with 18 trainees currently enrolled. This year, 40 trainees completed the two-year program covering epidemiology, biostatistics, surveillance, communication, health economics, laboratory sciences, biosafety, and research. The PHEP cohort concluded an intensive three-month training focused on outbreak investigation, surveillance, and health management.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Dr. Bisan Al-Hersh said the program had significantly shaped their professional development and reinforced their commitment to advancing surveillance systems, outbreak investigation, and public health improvements in their communities.
Recognized as a leading initiative in the region, the FETP has positioned Jordan as a model in public health capacity building. Every governorate in the Kingdom now has at least one graduate working in the public sector, underscoring Jordan’s compliance with International Health Regulations, which recommend one field epidemiologist per 200,000 people.
//Petra// RZ
