DIPLOMA IN CLINICAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Course code: DCM/PH
Level: Diploma
Duration: 3years
Overview
Diploma in Clinical medicine and public health (DCM/PH) is three years program organized by NIHS under the leadership of MOH- Directorate of Training and Professional Development.
Availability of competent and efficient human resources in the health sector is essential in the provision of the health services expected of the Government of South Sudan. A system that enhances the delivery of right quality and caliber of human resources through training is critical. This is particularly true of Diploma holder of Clinical medicine and Public health that are constantly in direct contact with the patient/community.
Justification
The health sector has continuously evolved and in the process presented the health worker and in particular the clinicians with new challenges. The new challenges call for review of the approach to training to make this Clinical Medicine and public health cadre relevant in meeting health care needs.
Having Diploma in clinical medicine and public health will equip clinical officers with skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the population in the different contexts they may find themselves in.
Therefore, training using a competence-based approach to work alongside other health professionals would narrow the gap in health service delivery.
Course Objective
The program is to equip learners with competencies necessary to develop students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for providing quality health care at all levels in the health sector in the Republic of South Sudan. The design and the content of the programme provides opportunities for students to develop prerequisite competencies to provide clinical care, community service and leadership and management for strengthening the health care system.
The programme will enable the graduate to achieve the following objectives at the end of the training period:
- Apply professional skills in diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and conditions.
- Participate in preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative health care services in the community.
- Teach and educate health workers and the community on relevant issues on health issues.
- Work as a team member in the delivery of health services with other health workers and institutions.
- Manage health services through application of various managerial and leadership skills.
- Demonstrate positive and responsive attitudes, ethical and professional conduct in providing health care services to individuals, family and the community.
- Undertake continuing professional development in order to maintain and acquire new knowledge and skills that are essential in the provision of health services.
- Conduct innovative research for evidence and knowledge management.
- Carry out resource mobilization for health service delivery
After the programme a graduand will be able to:
Clinically
- Accurately diagnosing common health problems
- Appropriately managing common health problems in the health facility
- Accurately preparing drugs prescriptions for common health problems
- Accurately administering relevant treatment
- Appropriately counseling and managing patients/clients
- Appropriately identifying patient/clients that need referral and promptly making refers
- Diligently carrying out minor surgical operations
- Appropriately identifying emergencies and referring them promptly
- Diligently conducting normal and abnormal deliveries and/or referring them promptly.
Community health wise
- Conducting community mobilization and sensitization
- Conducting immunization sessions at the health facility and outreaches
- Carrying outgrowth monitoring and promotion
- Conducting home visits
- Carrying out school health programmes
- Carrying out antenatal, natal and post-natal services at the health facility and outreaches
- Providing reproductive health services at the health facility and community
- Carrying out information communication and education [IEC] on relevant health issues.
- Initiating and participating in environmental sanitation interventions
- Carrying out community diagnosis and disease surveillance
- Conducting research on relevant health issues.
Managerial duties
- Identifying health priorities/needs in the catchment area
- Managing and providing leadership to establish, develop and strengthen health units through good governance and best practices
- Carrying out resource mobilization for the health unit.
- Preparing action plans and work schedules for the health facility
- Implementing planned services
- Monitoring and evaluating health service delivery at the health facility and in the community
- Conducting supportive supervision of fellow staff.
- Appraising staff in the health facility.
- Organizing and coordinating staff meetings.
- Training other staff and supervising heath learners in practicum and internship.
- Carrying out performance management in the health facility
- Ensuring quality in health service delivery
- Initiating and promoting inter and intra-sectoral collaboration
- Decision making and communication
- Managing financial resources transparently
- Carrying out proper drug management
- Implementing the recommended Health Information management system in the unit,
- Carrying out advocacy and social mobilization in the community
- Compiling and submitting reports to relevant authorities regularly.
- Participating in health policy development and implementation
- Mobilizing and managing resources for effective health service delivery
Program structure
The programme is structured in courses that are logically and sequentially organized to take three academic years. Each year is divided into two semesters each lasting 22 weeks of learning and teaching as shown table below:
ENTRY REQUIREMENT
Admission requirement
To gain admission into the Diploma in Clinic Medicine and Public Health course, a candidate must, first of all, satisfy the general requirements for admission to NIHS at a diploma level. In addition a candidate shall be eligible for admissions to the DCM/PH programme on meeting any of the following minimum qualifications:-
Direct Entry:
A person may be admitted to the diploma programme (entry into year one) via the diploma scheme if the person has:
Country | Level completed | Results scored |
South Sudan:
| Senior 4 certificate | Minimum 60% average total scored in science subjects.
|
Uganda | O-Level Certificate or A-Level certificate | Minimum third (3rd) Grade or One principal passed and two subsidiaries, |
Kenya | Senior 4 certificate | Minimum Passed C+ |
Field placement and attachment
DCM/PH field placement and attachment (8weeks)
COURSE FEES (PER SEMSESTER PER ACEDEMIC YEAR)
Fees | New student | Continue student |
Tuition (per semester) | $250 | $250 |
Functional/administrative | $250 | 135 |
Total | $500 | $385 |