(The speech as prepared)
Minister,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for the opportunity you are giving me today to be among you to salute our joint efforts to improve epidemiological surveillance in Mauritania. Indeed, this training in 2022 of the first cohort demonstrates Mauritania’s commitment to improving its epidemiological surveillance through the continuous technical training of its health personnel. This training of health personnel is based on the relaunch of the Field Epidemiology Training Program stipulated in the work plan, designed in a concerted manner between your department, to meet the public health priorities of Mauritanians, and the United States Government. United, through technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC.
As was the case in 2016, when we started our first partnership for field epidemiology training, the urgency is there. In 2016, it was the fear of Ebola that mobilized Mauritania and the international community. Today, it is the challenge of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic that we must meet, together.
Minister,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Field epidemiology training is a powerful surveillance tool in every region of Mauritania. Properly used by expert professionals, it is proven to improve the ability of states and organizations to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies. Allow me, therefore, to salute the renewed commitment of the CDC, for its support to the tune of US$620,000, for the implementation of this technical assistance. I am also honored to know that it is an African organization, in this case, the Network of African Field Epidemiologists (AFENET), which is the delegated contracting authority for this capacity building. I salute AFENET’s resolute commitment.
Minister,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The partnership that unites us today will make it possible to train three cohorts of 75 people in frontline epidemics and responses. These three cohorts will be added to the first two cohorts that we trained together from 2016 to 2017. Our hope is that this kind of capacity building will be sustained and offered to as many health actors as possible, as a solution permanent challenge to epidemiological surveillance. They are the first to respond, not only to emergencies, but also to our daily health needs.
Before concluding, I would like to express my appreciation for the excellent cooperation that exists between your Ministry and the American Embassy. It is this cooperation that has enabled the progress we celebrate today in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, among other things.
