Public Health Department

The Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele Rivers State started with seven students in October 2003 under Doctor O. Nwankwo as the first Head of department. This was sequel to the approval from Senate. Under the current Head of department, Dr. Benedicta N Agu, the Department has continued to witness tremendous increase in student enrollment and has graduated several sets of students since 2007. The first batch of graduates of the department was (7) seven in number, and second batch (2) two in number, third batch (4) four in number, fourth batch (3) three in number, fifth batch (15) fifteen in number, six batch (26) twenty-six in number, seventh batch (33) thirty-three in number, eighth batch (29) twenty-nine in number, ninth batch (55) in number have completed for National Youth Service Corps Programme in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. With the increase in student enrolment there is a corresponding increase in our graduates.

Additionally there has been increase in structure and equipment and in both academic and administrative staff strength. Currently there is over eight teaching staff.

The Philosophy of the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Madonna University Nigeria, Elele Rivers State takes its cue from the broad Philosophy of the Faculty of Health Sciences in the country. First, the Department is line with the believe of the Faculty that optimal public health education can be achieved in an institution of higher learning that provides a foundation for general education in the various sciences.

To this end, the department aims to provide sound scientific and professional basis for the production of Public Health personnel capable of working in any of the three levels of primary health services. The Department would provide such training as would equip Public Health Personnel render public health services. It will, too, produce Public Health experts who would satisfy internationally recognizable standard and who would under-take further training towards specialization. Finally, the department aims to produce Public health personnel with sufficient management ability to play leadership role in health care delivery.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• provide a first degree for public health practitioners in Nigeria;

• produce professionals with sufficient skills who will practice in Nigeria;

• produce professionals who will be eligible to pursue postgraduate programmes and research leading to award of PGD, MPH and Ph.D degrees;

• understand the health needs and health problems of the individuals and particular sections of the population and formulate health education programmes to avert the condition;

• discuss the urgent need of health in the 21st century which has witnessed an unprecedented increase in crime wave due to drug addiction and other problems including prostitution, over population, environmental pollution and the call for health for all. All are geared towards supporting health education as fundamental tool for handling most of these man-made problems;

• expose students to health ideas which enhance the promotion of physical, mental, spiritual, occupational, social and psychological health which they ought to pursue all through their live;

• provide a definite plan for the acquisition of public health skill which enables an individual to make intelligent decisions on matters concerning his health and that of the community as a whole.

Scope

The scope of the programme is designed to expose students into the main areas which are environment, nutrition, maternal, child health and family planning, occupational health, emotional health, mental health, epidemiological health, health care delivery system and organization, health economics, dental health, population health and development. Additionally, Students are required to take compulsory ancillary courses in Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Computer Science, Pharmacy and Anatomy to broaden their knowledge and also for better understanding of their field of study. After completing their third year of studies, public health students do embark on practicum/public health internship scheme. This enables students relate practical experiences to what they have been taught in class and also helps to prepare them for future career.

Admission Requirements

Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)

Students applying to read the four year programme for award of the Bachelor of Science degree must satisfy the minimum university matriculation requirements. Such students must also have at least five credit level passes in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology at G.C.E. O levels or its equivalents in not more than two sittings.

Direct Entry

Students for direct entry admission into a three year programme, are to have five credit level passes as required above and a minimum of two passes at G.C.E A level in not more than two sittings in any of the science subjects. Registered Nurses or those with NCE in Health/Physical Education, Science Education, Nutrition, Home Economics, OND, ND, HND and Diploma in public health may also apply for direct entry admission. To graduate and for the award of the B.Sc (Hons) degree in public Health students must have completed and passed the prescribed courses and electives totaling 166 credit units.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Successful students in the Bachelor of Science degree examination in Public Health are well equipped to work as:-

1. Health Educator

Teaches various classes in health and conveying health topics e.g. consumer health, family health, sex education etc. counsels student in solution to health problems, planning, design, implementation and evaluation of programme. Job opportunities found in schools, hospitals, private agencies, industries, media, university, lecturing, health advertising , community programme, health research and consultancy.

2. Public Health Educator

Educates’ public on causes and prevention of diseases as well as health problems. Also helps to plan and develop health programmes to meet community needs. Job opportunities found in hospital, government agencies and voluntary health agencies, primary health care.

3. School Counselors

Health lecturers help student’s selects course of study. Counsel student’s with health and adjustment problems. Job opportunities are found in schools, colleges and Universities.

4. Food Inspector

Inspect firms that produce and store goods, examining evidence of anything that could make a product unhealthy. Discuss findings with manager. Prepare a written report. Gathers evidence to be used in court if legal action is necessary. Job opportunities found within health agencies, food and drug administration, food making factories.

5. Nutritionist/Dietician

Educate people about nutrition feeding and health maintenance. Counsels people on nutritional needs e.g pregnant women, ageing people, high school athletes and those who have limited money for food. Job opportunities found in public health department, hospitals, food processing industries, research laboratory, university lecturing.

6. Social Work

Providing activities that group of people of the same age can do together and providing counseling services that help people understand themselves better. Helping individuals and families solve social problems. Job opportunities found within hospitals, social welfare agencies, schools, prisons, refugee campus.

7. Physician

Conduct general medical diagnoses and prescribes medicine. Take off point for all medical professions before specialization in surgery. Gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, dermatology, etc

 8. Public Health Nursing

Visiting homes of people’s home with specified health problems, helping people learn to care for family members who are ill. Advise families about nutritional and child care. Job opportunities found in hospitals, private clinics, voluntary health agencies, and industries

9. Rehabilitation Counselor

 Helping drug addicts plan rehabilitation programmes for themselves or finding a home or job that matches their interest, liaises between addicts and medical professionals. Job opportunities found in psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation centres.

10. Epidemiologist/Medical Detectives

Investigate disease out breaks. Specialize in the study of distribution of infectious or contagious diseases. Job opportunities found within research institutes and teaching in the universities, hospital and ministries of health

11. Pollution Control Technician

Collect samples and runs tests according to prescribed methods and records data. He uses spectrophotometer, photometer and other laboratory equipment. Job opportunities found in environmental protection agencies, industries.

12. Waste Water Treatment Operator

Testing samples of water in laboratory waste water treatment plants. Control equipment that moves sewage through various processes. Job opportunities found in sewage treatment, water boards.

13. Medial Record Officers

File patient case notes and locate them when needed. Assist in compiling data for research studies. Job opportunities are found in the hospitals and clinics and settings.

14. Dental Hygienist

He cleans people’s teeth, removing calculus, recording patients’ medical and dental histories. X-Ray films and instructs patients on how to brush their teeth. They usually work under the supervision of dentists. Job opportunities found in schools, industries, hospitals, dental clinics, self employment

15. Health and Safety Educator

He supervises safety operation the company and safety of employees. Plans, develops, implements and administers programmes for accident, injury and illness prevention. Job opportunities are found in fire brigade, industries, insurance, teaching of occupational health and safety education in industries.

16. Beauty Operators

Cutting, straightening, waving and dyeing hair, manicuring and pedicure, cleaning equipment, sterilizing instruments, cosmetologist/beauticians, hairdressers, self -employment etc

Course Coding System

Course code contains an abbreviation letter code of three letters representing the department offering the course and three digits. The first digit represents the year or level of study. The second digit indicates the subject or the stress area. The third digit denotes the semester. (Odd numbers represent first semester; even numbers represent second semester).

Departmental Code

PUH Public Health

PIO Physiology

BCH Biochemistry

MCB Microbiology

PCO Pharmacology

CHM Chemistry

PHY Physics

GST General Studies

ANT Anatomy

MTH Mathematics

MLS Medical Laboratory Science

PSY Psychology

CSC Computer Science

Course Registration

All students shall register for courses within the first and second weeks of resumption in the semester. Students who fail to register as stated shall be considered for late registration within the third week of the semester. Any student who fails to register within the first two weeks of the semester shall be advice to defer the semester. Only in special circumstances and through the approval of the Vice Chancellor on the behalf of the Senate, may a student be allow to register after three weeks but not more than four weeks into the semester. An application for late registration shall attract a prescribed fee.

The Stress Areas

Introductory Courses 0

Public Health Information, Education and Communication 1

Epidemiology, Disease Control and Surveillance 2

Environmental Health/Occupational Health 3

Health System Management and Administration 4

Community/Family and Reproductive Health 5

Human Nutrition 6

Seminar in Public Health 8

Project 9