SPEECH BY DR. DAVID MUKANGA- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AFENET AT THE
GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE AFENET CDC EPT ONE HEALTH FELLOWSHIP
8 JUNE 2012
Representative of the Honorable Minister of Health of Uganda – Dr Dennis Lwamafa
The Director General of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng
USAID EPT Coordinator in Uganda- Dr. Thomas Easley
The Director CDC Uganda
The representative of the WHO Country Representative to Uganda - Dr. Miriam Nanyunja
Our key note speaker, Dr. Njenga Kariuki
Our graduands, the One Health fellows
The Head, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Ministry of Livestock Development, Kenya- Dr.
Mbabu Murithi
The representative of the Director, Disease Surveillance and Response- Ministry of Public
Health and Sanitation, Kenya- Dr. Shikanga O-tipo
Dr. Nicholas Kauta - Country Representative, World Organization for Animal Health OIE
All protocol observed, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for honoring our invitation to attend this important event.
Today, we witness the passing out of a new cadre of public health professionals under the
AFENET CDC EPT One Health fellowship. This graduation ceremony is a landmark in the
history of public health training in Africa because for the first time in Africa, physicians,
veterinarians, and environmental health professionals have been trained together and given the
skills to effectively address the ever-growing threat of zoonotic diseases. Previously, different
professionals responded to disease outbreaks differently, for example physicians,
environmentalists, veterinarians, anthropologists, laboratorians, and other professionals all
sought separate answers to and responded in isolation to diseases. The One Health concept
promotes integration of these sectors to ensure holistic and exhaustive management of
diseases.
Let me point out that over 60% of infectious diseases affecting humans originate from animals,
therefore we need public health experts that can address such diseases. I am therefore
confident that the implementation of the AFENET CDC EPT One Health Fellowship is very
timely.
I cannot over-emphasize the danger caused by zoonoses such as anthrax, Ebola, and rabies.
Some of these diseases have even been tagged as having bio-terrorism potential. To address
the potential for a zoonotic catastrophe in the region, AFENET in partnership with the US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Emerging Pandemic Threats
Program (EPT) at USAID developed the AFENET CDC EPT One Health fellowship. Under this
pioneer One Health training program, we have built the human capacity to address zoonoses
through the six fellows who are graduating today. The fellowship was born out the need to
develop a cadre of professionals that could work across both the animal and human health
sectors, and promote better coordination between the sectors.
The fellows have been part of national surveillance and outbreak response teams for several
diseases such as anthrax and Ebola, where they acquired practical skills. Some of their
innovative research and surveillance work involved investigations on lightning, environment,
water, and food safety surveillance for mass gatherings, as well as evaluation of abattoir
surveillance systems. I am confident that they will promote better communication and
cooperation between the animal and human health sectors. I encourage the fellows to maintain
their enthusiasm for enhancing One Health and to continue supporting the ministries of health
and livestock in Uganda and Kenya.
I am deeply grateful to all our partners that have made this fellowship a success. CDC’s highest
leadership in Atlanta endorsed this fellowship and through their generous funding enabled us to
successfully pioneer this program and produce six highly skilled One Health practitioners and
champions. Ms. Michele Evering- Watley, Dr Peter Nsubuga, Mr. Steve Becknell, and Mr.
Kenneth Johnson from CDC Atlanta offered great support in implementing this fellowship and
making today’s ceremony a success.
CDC’s highest leadership in Atlanta endorsed this fellowship and Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC
Director has signed off the fellows’ certificates of completion.
I also thank staff from the EPT Program at USAID, Makerere University School of Public Health,
Ministry of Health- Uganda, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries- Uganda,
Ministry of Health and Public Sanitation- Kenya, Ministry of Livestock Development- Kenya, and
the Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, the World Organization for
Animal Health and all partners for your support and confidence in the fellowship. I am also
grateful to the fellowship mentors and supervisors for their tireless efforts in coaching this new
breed of highly skilled professionals. I wish to recognize Dr. Monica Musenero from USAID, as
one of the proponents and first mentors, Dr. Monday Busuulwa, Dr. Chima Ohuabunwo, Dr.
Immaculate Nabukenya and Dr. Sheba N. Gitta from AFENET, Dr. Rose Ademun, Dr. Noelina
Nantima, Dr. Deo Ndumu, and Dr. Joseph Serugga from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal
Industry, and Fisheries- Uganda, Dr. Issa Makumbi, Dr. Joseph Wamala, and Mr. Malimbo
Mugagga from the Ministry of Health- Uganda, and Dr. Jared Omolo, Dr. Ian Njeru, and Dr.
Murithi Mbabu from the Kenya Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Kenya
Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, and Kenya Ministry of Livestock Development for their
commitment.
Ladies and gentlemen, AFENET is extremely grateful for your support and we remain
committed to strengthening public health training for better disease surveillance and outbreak
response. Today, we support 20 African countries and 6 islands in the Caribbean in public
health workforce development, surveillance and laboratory systems strengthening. We pledge
to continue working with you and call on your continued support.
Lastly, I congratulate the fellows for reaching this milestone. The skills they have acquired make
them catalysts for improved disease surveillance, detection, prevention, and control. As
AFENET, we are proud of you, the pioneer One Health fellows and delighted by your success.
Your certificates have been signed by Dr. Thomas Frieden- Director, CDC Atlanta, Dr. Thomas
Easley- the EPT Country Coordinator in Uganda, and myself. So, please keep the mantle high. I
urge our ministries of health and agriculture to utilize these highly skilled resources to impact on
the public health of our nations.
Thank you for and One Health and enjoy the celebration.