Department of Community Health

HOD’S WELCOME ADDRESS

This Department was established in the year 2018 having realized the need to have capable hands to serve humanity as scholars and practitioners in the field of Community Health in line with international standards. The Department is made up of competent, reliable and selfless scholars of national and international repute who have worked assiduously in their careers to also help you shape your future as you begin a new life.

1. Introduction

The Proposed Public Health Programme is an offshoot of Biological Sciences Department of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. With the existence of Microbiology and Biochemistry Programmes, the Public Health Programme is designed to provide students with a broad-based knowledge of theoretical and practical training in the multi-disciplinary field of Medicine in general and Public Health in particular.

• Justification

With the fast growing population in the Country coupled with enormous types of diseases in the global community, it is pertinent to train larger portion of the population on the basic preventive health care system in order to render appropriate healthcare services to the public.

3.0 Philosophy 

The philosophy of the public health programme is to provide a broad-based academic, professional training and competence that reflect the emphasis on the current national preventive health care systems and services.  

4.0 Aim

The aim of the programme is to provide candidates with basic knowledge and skills of the process involved in Public Health Care Systems. The Programme will also prepare students for advanced studies in the area of Public Health to enable them contribute to overall development of the Public Health Sector of the Nation.  

 5.0 Objectives 

The objectives of the programme are to:  

• Enable the students acquire competences in Public Health, carry out community diagnosis, immunization, community mobilization, health education and apply statistical and mathematical methods to the design and analysis of public health problems. 
• Enable students conduct biomedical research, nutrition and growth monitoring, environmental monitoring and disease surveillance.
• Prepare public health professional to take up effective leadership and management position in the community, work places, school settings and health centres/institutions.   

6.0 Admission Requirements

Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)

Candidates seeking admission into the programme must have at least credit level passes at the senior secondary school certificate (SSCE/NECO/GCE) examinations in English Language, Biology or Health Science, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics or any other science subject.

Direct Entry

Admission into 200 level is solely by Direct Entry through JAMB. Candidates must have passed all prescribed courses in “A” level or equivalent, in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics in addition to fulfilling the ‘O’ level entry requirements. Candidates such as Registered Nurses or candidates with NCE (Physical/Health Education, Science Education, Nutrition, Home Economics) Health Superintendent may also be considered for Direct Entry Admission.

7.0 Duration

The Duration for the Public Health Programme shall be four academic sessions including the Internship for practical training for UTME students and three academic sessions for Direct Entry students. Students who cannot meet all the Degree Requirements within two (2) academic sessions in excess of the minimum duration shall be requested to withdraw from the Programme.  

8.0 Conditions for the Award of Degree

To qualify for graduation and award of the B.Sc (Hons) degree in Public Health, a student must have completed and passed the prescribed core, required and elective courses including all the GNS courses (100 level to 300 level).

8.1 Minimum Number of Credits for Graduation

To be awarded a B. Sc. Degree in Public Health, a student shall pass a minimum of 169 credit units for four-year degree programme including all the core and required courses as stipulated for the programme. For direct entry students, the minimum credit units required for graduation is 128.