International Public Health (Engels)

Post-graduate Course

Introduction

The post-graduate diploma course in International Public Health is intended for health professionals (medical doctors, nurses, midwives and other allied health professionals) who intend to work in health care in developing countries.

The International Public Health Course trains health professionals who are able to:

• collect information about the health situation of a community;
• determine its health problems and find appropriate solutions in co-operation with the local community;
• facilitate the development of (aspects) of health care projects such as the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects, the development of information systems, setting up (long term) health promotion and prevention campaigns as well as (short term) emergency aid;
• participate in the (further) training of local health workers.

This one year part-time course (1 day a week) is unique in its kind. After finishing the course, most students are sent out by development agencies such as MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), Médecins du Monde and VSO.

The official language of the course is English.

Information sessions

For further information we invite you to come to our information meetings on Monday 3 September 2012, 5 November 2012 and 3 December 2012 from 15.30 to 17.00 hrs.

Content

Objectives

The course prepares participants to:

• describe and analyse health and social problems on a local level
• develop an insight in the causes and consequences of ill-health in a community and in the process of health development
• develop solutions for health (care) problems in co-operation with local health workers and other stakeholders, taking into account the various cultural and religious values
• participate in the management of health programmes and the (further) training of local health workers

Content and working methods

The course is organised by a number of self-contained learning units (modules). Lectures will be given during sessions, followed by group activities, discussions, practical workshops and case studies. Active participation of all course participants is essential for the learning process. The various elements of the study programme will be catered for by lecturers who have extensive recent knowledge and experience in the field of community health in developing countries.

The content of the programme includes the following modules:

• primary health care
• health and development
• epidemiology
• health education and promotion
• management of primary health care
• mental health
• management of tropical diseases
• nutrition
• integrated management of childhood illnesses
• sexual and reproductive health
• emergency aid
• teaching and learning  

Length of study programme

The course takes one year (from January to January) and contains approximately 36 tutorial days. The study load is about 20 hours per week. The course will be offered through a number of modules, which are centered around training days (and in some cases training weeks).

Schedule in 2013

• January: 28
• February: 4, 11
• March: 4, 11, 25

• April: 8, 15, 22
• May: 6, 13, 27
• June: 3, 10, 17, 24
• July: 1, 8
• August:
• September: 9, 16, 23, 30
• October: 7, 14, 28
• November: 4, 11, 18, 25
• December: 2, 9, 16

Diplomas will be presented in January 2014.

Admission requirements

In order to be admitted to the course you must meet the following criteria:

• a diploma, at least at Bachelor level, in nursing or an allied health study
• relevant job experience for at least one year (not necessarily in a developing country)
• a good command of the English language, verbally as well as in writing

Short courses

This year we offer for the first time the possibility of following some parts of the programme as short courses.
Non-students can now participate in:

• International project management
• Training skills
• Awareness raising and behavioural change
• Management of Emergencies