From data to reports: successful completion of R training for ECDC and Africa CDC epidemic intelligence teams
The training, held from 8 to 12 July 2024 at the Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, equipped participants with skills in R programming, focusing on data analysis, visualisation and automating reporting.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a comprehensive hands-on programme with sessions starting from the theoretical aspects of R programming to using R for generating epidemiological reports. The sessions also covered the development and review of training materials, practical exercises, and the preparation of case studies for future trainings and group work sessions.
Outcomes and impact
The training programme successfully equipped participants with advanced skills in R programming, enhancing their ability to conduct data analysis and visualisation for disease surveillance data. This training not only strengthened the individual capacities of the experts involved but also promoted a more harmonised approach to epidemic intelligence in line with the core objectives of the ‘ECDC for Africa CDC’ project.
Collaboration between Africa CDC and ECDC continues to pave the way for more robust and integrated disease surveillance systems.
Background
The R collaboration began between 26 February and 1 March 2024, when an ECDC team visited Africa CDC in Addis Ababa for initial working sessions. During these discussions, the structure and content of the R training were outlined.
