«Mediterranean and Black Sea field epidemiology training programme network to increase security in the EU neighbourhood (“MediPIET”) »
MediPIET is a European Union-DG DEVCO funded regional training programme network in field epidemiology (FETP) under the “Instrument for Stability and Peace”, linked to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence initiative – CBRN CoE. The project is led by the consortium set up by the Spanish Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) – Fundación Estatal, Salud, Infancia y Bienestar Social (FCSAI), Spain with the scientific advice of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
This project has been established under a regional perspective to contribute to the overall objective of enhancing health security in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region by supporting capacity building for prevention and control of biological, natural or man-made health threats posed through the further roll-out of a sustainable training programme in intervention epidemiology.
History
Building on the achievements of the EpiSouth network and other previous collaborations in the field of health security, and also on the strong interest of EU neighbouring countries to engage in a regional FETP programme, MediPIET started in 2013 with a two-year establishment phase managed by ECDC (MediPIET I, 2013-2014) and followed by an implementation phase carried out by a consortium of International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP) and ISCIII, with the scientific leadership of ECDC (MediPIET II, 2014-2017).
A new phase started at the end of 2018 that will finish in mid-2021 and it is implemented by the Consortium ISCIII – FCSAI, with the scientific advice of ECDC.
MediPIET Objectives
– Training a regional cadre of field epidemiologists competent in intervention epidemiology to carry out essential public health functions for prevention and control of communicable diseases and other health threats.
– Training national trainers and supervisors in field epidemiology from the participating public health institutions, to provide support to cascade training down to regional and local levels and to nurture a regional network of trainers /supervisors.
– Disseminating expertise, knowledge and skills between non-EU countries and EU partners, by training epidemiologists during national and regional field epidemiology training programs.
– Fostering country commitment, ownership and regional networking to share practices and experiences as essential conditions for building a sustainable structure and strengthening the regional training network; .
–Networking with other partners, institutions and networks already acting, or with a potential important role, in the region at EU and non-EU level.
Project Duration:
The Consortium ISCIII-FCSAI is implementing the project from December 2018 till April 2021.
The project is built upon Episouth, led by the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanitá; MediPIET preparatory phase, led by ECDC and MediPIET Extension, implemented by FIIAPP/ISCIII.