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The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone, has officially commenced its inaugural Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Epidemiology and Disease Control programme, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its public health workforce.
The orientation ceremony for the first cohort of the programme was held at the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) Headquarters in Freetown, bringing together senior officials from COMAHS, the NPHA, the Ministry of Health, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), the School of Postgraduate Studies, and other public health stakeholders.
Leading the COMAHS delegation were Deputy Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor James B. W. Russell; Deputy Registrar, Mrs Yatta Kosia Kamara; and Deputy Finance Director, Mr Emmanuel Strasser-King.
The orientation was organised to provide participants with a clear understanding of the academic standards, operational procedures, and professional expectations guiding Sierra Leone’s inaugural Advanced Field Epidemiology Training Programme (Advanced FETP).
Addressing the gathering, Professor Russell described the programme as a strategic investment in Sierra Leone’s health sector, saying it represents a critical step towards strengthening disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, emergency preparedness, and evidence-based public health practice.
He acknowledged the support of the National Public Health Agency, the Ministry of Health, AFENET, and the U.S. CDC for partnering with the University of Sierra Leone to deliver a programme that combines academic excellence with practical field experience.
Professor Russell noted that the country’s experiences during the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent Mpox outbreak highlighted the urgent need for highly trained epidemiologists capable of responding effectively to emerging public health threats.
He assured the new residents of the University’s commitment to providing an enabling academic environment that promotes excellence, innovation, integrity, and interdisciplinary collaboration throughout the duration of the programme.
Speaking on behalf of the University’s Registry, Deputy Registrar Mrs Yatta Kosia Kamara urged the residents to remain disciplined and committed, describing the programme as academically demanding due to its intensive fieldwork, complex data analysis, and strict academic requirements.
She encouraged the students to cultivate critical thinking rather than relying solely on memorisation and reminded them that integrity remains the cornerstone of public health research. She further warned against plagiarism, data fabrication, and other forms of academic misconduct, reaffirming the University’s zero-tolerance policy on academic dishonesty.
Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Ronnie Frazer-Williams, also advised the residents to use artificial intelligence responsibly, stressing that while AI can support learning, it should never replace original research, independent thinking, and scholarly writing.
Among those in attendance were Chairman of the National Public Health Agency, Dr Foday Sahr, Academic Coordinator of the Advanced FETP at COMAHS, Professor Cyprian Okoro, and NPHA Executive Director, Dr M. A. Vandi.
The launch of the MPhil in Epidemiology and Disease Control is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to produce highly skilled epidemiologists who will play leading roles in disease surveillance, outbreak response, and the development of evidence-based public health interventions across the country.
