Epidemiology is a branch of health science that focuses on issues like disease occurrence or other health-related issues within a specific population. Apart from identifying the problem, epidemiologists are tasked with diagnosing and implementing solutions.
Epidemiologists are some of the most active health professionals since they are at the forefront of identifying disease trends, risk factors, and the subsequent public health implications for societies.
If you are passionate about science and medicine, you might want to look into becoming an epidemiologist and start studying the major health-related concerns that impact the globe today.
For more information regarding what an epidemiologist is, the roles, core competencies, minimum education requirements, and the scope of impact of an Epidemiologist in the public health sector, read on.
Also read: Medical Laboratory Scientist Job Description
What Does an Epidemiologist Do?
An Epidemiologist tasks involve collecting information from surveys alarming to injuries, infectious diseases and a range of medical issues, in addition to processing and evaluating the information.
An epidemiologist is an expert who seeks to know the how, why and what for everything regarding human health situations in entire populations and their roles include:
- Develop, direct, and manage studies on the cause of contagious diseases.
- Direct the activities of research support personnel, both technical and administrative.
- Gather information and perform statistical analyses for data collected from interviews, questionnaires, blood donation, etc.
What is Epidemiology
Epidemiology focuses on various diseases and injuries – their origins, how they propagate, and ways for containing or stopping them.
Epidemiologists combine their scientific knowledge with well- honed research skills to thoroughly investigate the causes of illness and ensure the populace remains healthy and safe.
Key Responsibilities of an Epidemiologist:
The job responsibilities an Epidemiologist has includes a diverse list of assignments, which revolve around a singular focus of enhancing public health.
The responsibilities can be split under the following headings:
1. Disease Surveillance and Investigation:
- Monitoring Disease Trends: This entails the gathering, scrutiny, as well as the comprehension of data regarding the occurrence, prevalence, and incidence of disease in certain populations – for instance, Abuja or Nigeria.
- Multi-Modal Approach To Disease Investigation: The field investigations aimed at determining the source of a given disease outbreak, mode of transmission, and the extent to which the disease affects the population vis a vis pursued by health practitioners in Abuja and nearby health regions.
- Conducting Epidemiological Studies: The designing, carrying out and analyzing various epidemiological studies aimed at exploring disease etiology, risk factors and other protective factors such as descriptive, analytical, and observational studies.
2. Data Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation:
- Identifying Health-related Issues: Writing down health issues likely to be prevalent or unattended leading to the demise of active individuals aged 20-49 years.
- Formulating Instruments For Data Collection: Producing questionnaires, surveys and health events in exposed and not exposed populations to obtain relevant information on those who came in contact with the collection instruments among other things.
- Handling Data: Making sure completeness, accuracy, and integrity of reported health data obtained from various health facilities are maintained.
- Use of Statistical Techniques: Using statistical software to provide a model that explains the relations that exist among the variables being analyzed.
3. Public Health Program Support and Evaluation:
- Resource allocation: Offering high-level specialized advice and supervision to public health programs/activities on disease prevention, mitigation, and health promotion in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole.
- Program Evaluation: Analyzed the results of given public health intervention and programs using epidemiologic procedures.
- Research/Policy Analysis: Supplying information based on facts for formulating and or/evaluating public health policies and their operational procedures.
4. Communication and Collaborations:
- Reporting: Dissemination of findings/recommendations through reports, scientific writing, and oral presentations is done systematically.
- Liaising with partners: Active participation with other players; practitioners, government institutions such as Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, other NGOs, and international bodies.
- Facilitating the Training and Development Programs: Training health care staff and other practitioners becomes an integral part of public health work in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole.
Key Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes of an Epidemiologist:
An Epidemiologist must possess a set of skills and qualities to thrive in this challenging and important area:
- Analytical/Critical Thinking: A strong capacity to evaluate information, detect trends, and formulate a reasonable explanation.”
- Statistics Knowledge: Thorough understanding of statistical theory and ability to follow set procedures to process epidemiological data.
- Problem Solving Capabilities: An investigative approach to complex public health issues and competent in providing solutions.
- Data Management Skills: Ability to manage, clean, and organize big datasets.
- Research Skills: Capable of designing, implementing, and interpreting epidemiology studies.
- Communication Skills: Ability to communicate verbal and written information unbiased to people of different backgrounds.
- Attention to Detail: Caution and precision in data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Working in a multidisciplinary manner.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to cope with day-to-day changes and work in different settings..
- Ethical Considerations: Good grasp of ethical issues surrounding public health research and related activities.
Qualifications and Education Requirements of an Epidemiologist
The Epidemiologist Job requirements in Nigeria, will depend on the recruiting institution like government offices, NGOs, or research bodies. But some common inclusions are;
- Required Academics: They always expect you to have a Master’s education (Public Health, Biostatics, Biological Sciences, or MSc in Epidemiology) at least.
- Those who seek advanced and research-centric roles are likely to have a preferred PhD in Epidemiology or related fields.
- Work Skills: Working in public health, epidemiology, or similar research fields is a must, and varies from position to position. For employers in Nigeria, having prior experience within the Nigerian public health system is extremely helpful.
- Specific Software Knowledge: It includes skills in Epi Info, SPSS, R, STATA, and other statistical tools along with data management.
- Career Diplomas: Professional diplomas and certifications can be inclusively or exclusively useful for specific positions and organizations.
- Insightful Understanding: Being informed about the health challenges, cultural aspects, and public health issues of Abuja and Nigeria is very important.
Epidemiologist jobs
Within the area of epidemiology, there are many fields available for you to choose from, depending on how hands-on you want to be or if you prefer to do desk work. A few of the more common positions include:
- Infection control epidemiologist
- Molecular epidemiologist
- Epidemiology investigator
Career Outlook for Epidemiologists in Nigeria:
Most challenges associated with health in Nigeria could be remedied by increasing the recognition of epidemiology’s contribution to public health security and disease control.
The job prospects for epidemiologists are fairly good and include:
- Governmental health organizations, especially the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and State Ministries of Health.
- Research Institutions and Universities focusing on different health problems pertinent to Nigeria.
- Public Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) engaged in health public health projects and programs.
- International agencies like World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other organizations in Nigeria.
With the strengthening of public health systems and the fight against newly emerging and re-emerging communicable and chronic diseases, the number of skilled Epidemiologists in need will likely increase in Nigeria.
Conclusion on Epidemiologist Job Description
The opportunities that exist for an epidemiologist are many. An epidemiologist could serve in an international or local organization, a public government agency, or in a private organization.
The work that they carry out is important in establishing disease control measures, public health policies, and improving the lives of populations.
If you have the required skills and qualifications with a strong will to work in public health, then becoming an epidemiologist may just be the right career decision for you, the role of an epidemiologist is increasingly important and multifaceted, requiring concerted efforts to maintain public health in Nigeria, and any other affected region.