Introduction to
Epidemiology in MSF
Session 1
Seasoned epidemiologist
Epi-aficionado
Curious about MSF epidemiology
Meet the team
Elburg
Epidemiology Advisor
with MSF OCA
4 Epidemiology Advisors
Public Health specialists
GIS experts
Demystifying the role of an
MSF epidemiologist
Survey of OCA
CONFUSED epis 2017-2022
PERPLEXED
UNCLEAR
30% of OCA
epidemiologists
UNSURE
said few or none
of their colleagues
understood their
role
LOST
Your epidemiology journey
3 more sessions
You are currently in
Public health surveillance
the Introduction to Outbreak response
Epidemiology Operational research
Quizzes
4 session Test your knowledge
20 minutes approx. and understanding of
epidemiology in MSF
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to
01 Explain the role of an epidemiologist in MSF projects
02 Describe when epidemiologists can support activities in the project cycle
You'll be equipped with the knowledge to recognise the moments for
epidemiologists to contribute their invaluable skills and insights.
What is epidemiology?
Epi = About/among
Demos = Population
Logos = Rational thinking/studyplace
The study of health and disease patterns in populations
Identify risk factors, understand disease distribution
Develop strategies to prevent and control health problems
So, what is
epidemiology
in MSF?
What do MSF epidemiologists
actually do?
Public health Outbreak Operational
surveillance response research
Public health surveillance
What? “Systematic process of collection, transmission, analysis and
feedback of public health data for decision making”
Why? To detect public health threats
To monitor changes in diseases over time
How? Monitoring health facility surveillance data
Designing, implementing and monitoring community-based
surveillance systems
Outbreak response
Role of the epidemiologist
Initial Training to
Implement
investigations clinicians
to understand on case definitions Line lists at the
cause/extent of outbreak and line lists health facility
Support Analyse
Contribute
training outbreak data
of outreach team to inform decision to lessons learned
members on active making from the outbreak
case finding
Operational research
The what and why
What?
Research to improve the evidence base for our work
Routine surveys - mortality, nutrition and vaccination coverage surveys
Programme-based data analysis, mixed methods and other study designs
Why?
Operational research in humanitarian crises can help answer questions such as:
Who is affected by what health problem or threat?
What could help to address the health problem or threat?
How best to do it
Operational research
The who and how
Who?
Anthropologists, epidemiologists, medical staff and others
How?
Epidemiologists
Collaborate internally with project, coordination and HQ teams and local
researchers, communities and Ministries of Health to develop research
questions and study protocols
Choose appropriate methodologies (usually quantitative and including
sampling)
Train staff on data collection procedures and ethics
Analyse data
Interpret data and disseminate/promote uptake of findings
What does an
epidemiologist NOT do?
Compile the monthly
Manage DHIS2
medical report
An epidemiologist can support
throughout the project cycle
Interdisciplinary needs assessments
Synthesis of public health information
Development of indicators
for the log frame
Conduct an end line
assessment e.g., mortality
survey or analysis of medical
data Conduct baseline assessments
e.g., mortality surveys
Set up surveillance systems,
monitor and adjust them
Collaboration
Epidemiology work is COLLABORATIVE
● Medical staff,
● Health promotion and outreach teams,
● Water and sanitation (Watsan),
● Data team,
● Project coordination,
● Humanitarian affairs,
● Communications,
● Logistics & MedCo
● Epis from different MSF sections
● Ministry of Health
● Communities
Let’s change this narrative!
CONFUSED 30% of OCA
PERPLEXED epidemiologists
UNCLEAR said few or none of
their colleagues
UNSURE understood their
role*
*Survey of OCA epis 2017-2022
LOST
Resources
01 02
2 pagers Tembo course
Role of an MSF-OCA epidemiologist Prerequisite in
Role of an MSF-OCA epidemiology advisor Epidemiology
[Link]
Thanks!
CREDITS: This presentation template was created by
Slidesgo, and includes icons by Flaticon and
infographics & images by Freepik
