Strengthening Regional Surveillance and Response: Launch of FETP Frontline One Health Cohort 3 in Cambodia

Cambodia, 30 January 2026 — The Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) Frontline One Health Cohort 3 was officially launched from 26–30 January 2026 in Kampong Cham Province, marking an important milestone in strengthening Cambodia’s frontline workforce for health security. A total of 18 trainees and 14 mentors and co-mentors participated in the five-day workshop, representing the animal health, human health, and environmental health sectors under the One Health framework.

Trainees participated in Surveillance Study Visit at AMR surveillance System in Kampong Cham Provincial Hospital

The trainees came from Provincial Health Departments, Provincial Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, and Provincial Departments of Environment, reflecting strong multisectoral engagement. Workshop 1 focused on building foundational competencies in public health surveillance and basic epidemiology. Participants strengthened their understanding of surveillance systems, data quality, summary statistics, data analysis, interpretation, and effective communication of surveillance findings. Through interactive sessions, hands-on data exercises, cross-sector group work, and a surveillance study visit, trainees enhanced their capacity to collect, manage, and interpret surveillance data within their respective sectors while reinforcing the importance of collaboration across disciplines.

Opening session and in-class activities

This course is supported through a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) cooperative agreement, underscoring the strong partnership and shared commitment to advancing global health security. Notably, this was the first time the workshop was conducted in a government venue—the Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department—demonstrating increased government ownership and in-kind contribution to the program. The use of a government facility represents an important step toward sustainability and the institutionalization of FETP within national systems.

SAFETYNET, as an implementing partner, reaffirms its commitment to supporting regional readiness and strengthening surveillance capacity through technical assistance, mentorship, and operational support to frontline officers. By investing in competency-based training and promoting multisectoral collaboration, SAFETYNET continues to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable public health system in Cambodia and across the region.

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