IHSU Diploma in Msc Public Health Course |International Health Sciences University

Aims and Objectives

The MSc in Public Health aims to prepare students from a wide range of professions to become leaders in public health. Given the fact that the health of communities is the concern of a wide group of professionals, that health is related to a variety of factors, and that good health is a right, not a privilege, this programme will equip students with the understanding that public health is a priority in Uganda today. This programme will provide students with the opportunity to enhance their existing skills and competences so that the health profile of the communities with which they work can be raised significantly. By bridging the theories and principles of public health to bear on their work, programme participants will be able to contribute significantly to realizing the aims of the Uganda HSSP II. This programme can include a Community Health specialisation.

Outcomes

On completion of this postgraduate programme, participants will be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of theory and practice in the core public health disciplines of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, social and behavioural sciences e.g. Social inequalities in health and service use. Our students will also be equipped with key competences and skills that will enable them to identify and assess public health problems in “developing” countries and evaluate policies and programmes designed to improve public health in communities. This includes leadership and analytic skills, financial planning and management skills, communication skills and cultural competency.

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

Inform, educate, and empower communities about health issues and engage critically with current public health issues and debates;

Think in a critical, reflective way and to take effective action in addressing priority public health problems and provide strategic direction to the development of health policies and services;

Design, develop and implement community empowerment projects with specific leadership capacity to mobilise community participation with regard to health problems;

Evaluate health services and programmes, and institute changes required to improve their functioning;

Conceptualise, plan and conduct advanced research in Public Health;

Critically evaluate published studies on public health problems;

Collaborate with other health professionals on public health issues providing consultancy services where appropriate.

In addition, students will:

Have knowledge of current health policy and legislation;

Answer integrated practical assignments and case studies;

Apply learning to own work situation;

Demonstrate critical thinking in written submissions.

Target Group

The overall aim of the programme is to prepare leaders in the field of public health in the light of recent Ministry of Health documents and identified national skill shortages. The course is aimed at health care professionals who manage health services or who intend to manage an organisation which promotes public health services or which has public health services responsibilities. This includes medical practitioners, public health officers, pharmacists, midwives and nurses, nutritionists and dieticians, dentists, and many other personnel from central and local government, regulatory agencies, health networks and partnerships and community and voluntary groups.

The Programme

All students take 10 courses in order to complete the taught part of the programme. A total of 33 credit units is needed to proceed to the research paper or dissertation.

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