Call for Applications: 5-weeks course on One Health

OH-NEXTGEN (www.oh-nextgen.eu) is an FP7 project financed by the European Commission and launched in 2011.   The objective is to train the next generation of “One Health” Practitioners in the Sahel and Maghreb regions. It focuses on the principal neglected zoonoses of the Sahel and Maghreb namely: Rabies, Echinococossis, Leishmaniasis, Brucellosis, and Bovine tuberculosis.

It is planned to train tutors (trainers) in the Sahel and Maghreb regions initially who will be involved in the training of One Health practitioners in the two regions.   The trainings have been scheduled to cover the francophone and Anglophone countries in these regions.

Training for tutors in the francophone countries has already been conducted in Rabat, Morocco.

The training for the Anglophone countries will be held in Accra, Ghana, from 8^th January to 6^th February, 2015.

The purpose of this training is to recruit and train tutors who will be able to supervise the courses online.    Tutors will offer an independent post-graduate course from their various institutions on One Health and they would be selected based on performance at this training.   This training programme will enhance knowledge and understanding of One Health from a global perspective for an effective involvement in this complex interdisciplinary field.

The course in Accra will be in a modular form. The modules are as follows:

1. One Health in the Sahel and Maghreb (OH:3 ECTS)
2. Concepts of Epidemiology in One Health (EPI 1: 3 ECTS)
3. Methods of investigation/research in One Health (EPI2: 6 ECTS)
4. Analysis of risk in the One-Health Framework (EPI3: 9 ECTS)
5. One Health and Geographic Information Systems (EPI4: 6 ECTS)
6. Health and Economics of Livestock (HALE: 6 ECTS)
7. Specific Diseases and integrated control (ZOON: 3 ECTS)
8. One Health Policy development (POLICY: 6 ECTS)
9. Health Education and Communication within the One Health Framework (EDU: 3 ECTS)
10. Socio cultural aspects and ethics in the context of One Health (CULT: 3 ECTS)

Course Period

We are currently inviting Anglophone candidates of Sahel and Maghreb Origin to pursue a 5- weeks course in Accra, Ghana from the 8^th of January, 2015 to the 6^th of February, 2015.   A further 3 weeks consolidation of the course will be carried out via the web-based distance learning when tutors have returned to their home countries.   They will be awarded their certificates upon successful completion of both parts.

The structure of the course:  There will be a total of 4 sessions made up of: One Core and three optional modules.

The core module will be made up of:

• Modules on One Health and Basic Epidemiology (EPI1), plus techniques of long distance teaching

The objective of this module is to provide an overview of basic definitions, diagnostic concepts and statistical tools used in epidemiology, with special reference to a One Health framework.   Candidates must have computer literacy.

The optional modules will be:

Option 1 (Epidemiology): Modules EPI2, EPI3, and EPI4

Modules EPI2 and EPI3 are suitable for candidates with a good level of numeracy and previous experience in epidemiology.

• The module, EPI2, provides instructions for the design of surveys and offers advanced statistical techniques for the analysis of complex data generated in surveys and longitudinal studies. Candidates must have successfully completed module EPI1 or equivalent before they can enroll for modules EPI2 and EPI3. 

• The module, EPI3, provides a theoretical and practical overview of risk analysis including quantitative risk assessment and risk modeling.  
• The module, EPI4, provides an overview of the use of geographical information systems (GIS) for One Health epidemiological studies and provides the framework to understand spatio-temporal processes. It also shows how decision-support systems for One Health can be strengthened.   Candidates must have computer literacy and a good knowledge of basic functions in Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint (or equivalent software) to take module EPI4.

Option 2 (Economics and Policy of health): Modules HALE and POLICY

• The module, HALE, introduces the student to the application of economics in assessing the benefits and costs of zoonoses control.   Candidates must have computer literacy.
• The module, POLICY, provides evidence of the close relationship between humans, animals and the natural, political and socioeconomic environs throughout history that has evolved over the past few decades into what has become known as 'One Health'.    Candidates must have computer literacy.

Option 3 (Neglected Zoonosis): Modules ZOON, EDU and CULT

• The module, ZOON, provides an overview of five selected neglected diseases, namely brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis, echinococcosis /hydatid disease, leishmaniasis and rabies that prevail in the Maghreb and Sahel regions. The module covers biological, clinical and epidemiological aspects, diagnosis and surveillance and control methods in human, livestock and wildlife populations, taking into account disease characteristics in the target regions.   Candidates must be veterinarians, physicians, pharmacists, biologists or hold an equivalent degree.

• The module, EDU, provides an overview of strategies for promoting health by culturally appropriate methods that lead to sustained behavioural change at the individual, household and community levels.   Candidates must have computer literacy.

• The module, CULT, provides an introduction to the assessment of context-specific zoonotic illness at household and community levels using qualitative research methods. It also gives an overview of ethical aspects in One Health.    Candidates must have computer literacy.

Required Profiles:

• The candidate must possess a Master’s Degree in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Biology or hold an equivalent degree.
• The candidate must belong to an institution active in the field of human or animal health.
• The candidate must be ready to supervise the distance courses that will be organized in 2015.
• The candidates must have computer literacy.
• The candidate must be competent in the English Language (both written and spoken).
• The candidate must be available for the entire training period in Accra (8^th January - 6^th February, 2015).

OH-NEXTGEN offers to the candidate

• Quality training according to the participants area of choice
• Lodging and transport (pick-up services) for non-Ghanaian candidates 
• Feeding/Stipend
• The possibility of becoming a long distance tutor after the end of the project (2015)

How to Apply

Interested? Please send your CV and a letter specifying the option of your choice with your motivation for applying for this course to Hannah Tawiah Addo at tawiah2009@yahoo.com or htaddo@ug.edu.gh at the School of Public Health before 17^th October, 2014. Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.

For more information; www.oh-nextgen.eu or info@oh-nextgen.eu