Early Warning and Response Training for Health Officers in East Kalimantan

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), Indonesia organized an Early Warning and Response Training on 24th – 28th July 2023 through the “Project for Strengthening Capacity for Early Warning and Response to Infectious Diseases (EWARS)”

Over 30 surveillance personnel in the District Health Office (DHO) or District/City Hospital from 10 municipalities, 5 observers from the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the Provincial Hospital, Labkesda Laboratory in Balikpapan and Samarinda, and the BBTKLPP laboratory in Banjar Baru participated in this event. Some participants were experienced staff, some were newcomers. Some were highly experienced and knowledgeable.

As the first face-to-face training after the COVID-19 pandemic, this training provided with lectures and exercises, both individual and group exercises. The training was conducted and managed by the Jakarta Training Center of the Ministry of Health (BBPK Jakarta), the East Kalimantan Provincial Health Office, and the Provincial Health Training Center (Bapelkes Kaltim). Ms. Lia Septiana, Wawang, and Mr. Rama Hesa from Surveillance Working Team of Directorate Surveillance and Health Quarantine facilitated as well as spoke at the lecture session. In addition to the MoH officials, instructors from WHO, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) , and JICA’s mission team leader and adviser, Dr. Sunagawa from the National Institute of Infectious Disease (NIID) also spoke at the event.

Training module and curriculum for this training was developed by UGM with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and approved by the MoH. This training is the first training that uses an accredited training program for EWARS surveillance, so the participants was able to acquire new knowledge and standardized skills. Through question-and-answer sessions and group discussions, they gained a better understanding of EWARS applications, how to input, read and analyze data. There was a very positive attitude towards the training and lots of questions. Everyone prepared well for the group discussions, reporting the results of discussions, and presentations. All participants are happy because the training provides them with a certificate of training.

JICA hopes that this five-day training event was practical and beneficial, and the result would be utilized utmost to strengthen surveillance activities in respective areas. JICA appreciates all participants for their active participation. The JICA’s project is planning to conduct the similar training for Banten Province within this fiscal year.