Overview
Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (DHND) 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 with Diploma holder of Human Nutrition and Dietetics that are constantly in direct contact with the patient/community.
Justification
The health sector has continuously evolved and in the pro
South Sudan population suffering from a variety of nutritional deficiency disorders ranging from protein-calorie malnutrition to specific micro-nutrients in certain parts of the country. These nutrient deficiencies are propagated by multiple factors like dietary insufficiencies of micronutrients, poor maternal & child health, high burden of morbidity, low levels of micronutrients in the soil, bioavailability issues and have resulted in growth retardation, mental development and various types of physical disabilities. Increasing rate of chronic and acute malnutrition in the country is primarily attributed to poverty, high illiteracy among the mothers, food & nutritional insecurity and lack of cutting edge research to devise local
solutions to curb this situation. A large number of infectious diseases such as respiratory and intestinal infections remain responsible for up to 50% of deaths of children under five. Beside micronutrient deficiencies, the incidences of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, obesity, hypertension and kidney & liver problems are increasing day by day due to unsafe and poor quality diets.
Consequently, malnutrition reduces the GDP by 2-3% that is quite high as compared to the impact of economic crises (2%) and failures in power sector (2%). Likewise, malnourished children are at risk of losing more than 10% of their lifetime earnings potential. Overcoming malnutrition not only improves productivity but also reduces disease burden and enhances individual & national growth and wellbeing. The present situation demands serious joint efforts with strong political commitment to strengthen the nutritional education, devise
proactive interventions for vulnerable population groups such as pregnant and lactating women, young children, elderly and disabled individuals based on indigenous solutions.
Therefore, training students using a competence-based approach to work alongside other health professionals would narrow the gap in nutrition service delivery.cess 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 overall objective of the programme is to give comprehensive nutrition training so
that graduates of the programme can use food and nutrition knowledge and approaches to
contribute to the alleviation of malnutrition and therefore to the development of South Sudan
and the region.
The program is to equip learners with competencies necessary to develop students’ knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for providing quality nutrition services 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 and community nutrition services, leadership and management for strengthening the nutrition service system.
The programme will enable the graduate to achieve the following objectives at the end
of the training period:
- To produce nutritionists with knowledge and understanding of the basic elements of nutrition science required from the identification and analysis of nutritional problems of public health significance in South Sudan and the region.
- To produce nutritionists with knowledge and understanding of the multi-sectoral nature of nutrition and with the capacity of integrate knowledge from various disciplines in the development of nutritional programme for the improvement of the nutritional welfare of communities.
- To produce nutritionists who are motivated to work with local governments and communities on their development activities related to nutrition.
- To produce nutritionists with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the management of patients as part of the health care team.
- To produce nutritionists who are empowered with the skills and motivation to carry out research on nutrition relevant to the needs of South Sudan and the region.
- To produce nutritionists with a range of transferable skills such as problem-solving, use of IT for research, composition of reports, oral presentation and basic analysis of data; verbal and written communication in a style appropriate to a variety of different audiences using different media and working effectively as part of a team.
- To establish and promote partnership between Nile Institute of Health Sciences and Local Governments
After the programme a graduand will be able to:
- Apply communication skills in provision of nutrition and dietetics services.
- Use ICT knowledge and relevant computer software to provide nutrition and dietetics services.
- Conduct basic nutrition and dietetics assessment.
- Provide basic nutrition and dietetics counselling, advice and services based on nutrition sciences.
- Manage basic nutrition programmes and services.
- Provide basic health education on nutrition and dietetics to the public.
- Participate in nutrition and dietetics research.
- Participate in Monitoring and evaluation of project/programmes on nutrition and dietetics.
- Refer critical cases for higher level nutrition and dietetics care to qualified nutritionists and/dieticians.
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:
YEEAR ONE: Semester 1
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | Eng | Communication in English-1 | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 | Bio | Clinical Biochemistry | 30 |
| 75 | 3 |
3 | HND | Principles of Human Nutrition | 30 | 45 | 75 | 3 |
4 | Math | Basic Mathematics | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | CS | ICT application | 30 | 45 | 75 | 3 |
|
| Total | 180 | 90 | 315 | 15 |
YEAR ONE Semester 2:
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | HND | Macronutrient in Human nutrition | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 | A &P | Anatomy & Physiology -I | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
3 | Socio. | Fundamental of sociology | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
4 | Ethics | Ethics and integrity in professional practices | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | HND | Nutrition and health promotion | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
|
| Total | 210 |
| 210 | 15 |
YEAR TWO: Semester 1
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | HND | Micronutrients in Human nutrition | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 | A&P | Anatomy and physiology -II | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
3 | HND | Introduction to Molecular genetic | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
4 | HND | Food microbiology | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | HND | Food safety and quality management | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
6 | Mgt | Leadership and management | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
|
| Total | 240 |
| 240 | 18 |
YEAR TWO: Semester 2
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | FST | Essentials of Food Science & Technology | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 | Sat | Biostatistics | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
3 | HND | Assessment of nutritional status | 30 | 45 | 75 | 3 |
4 | HND | Nutrition in life cycle | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | Path | General pathology | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
6 | HND | Food analysis | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
|
| Total | 240 | 45 | 285 | 18 |
YEAR THREE: Semester 1
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | HND | Dietetics-I | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 |
| Nutrition and Psychology | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
3 | HND | Nutritional education and awareness | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
4 | HND | Meal planning and management | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | HND | Public Health Nutrition | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
6 | HND | Food and nutrition laws | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
|
| Total | 240 |
| 240 | 18 |
YEAR THREE: Semester 2
SN | CODE | COURSE | Theory | Practical | Total hours | Total credit |
1 | HND | Dietetics-II | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
2 | HND | Functional food and nutraceutical | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
3 | HND | Infant and young child feeding | 30 | 45 | 75 | 3 |
4 | HND | Research methods in Nutrition | 45 |
| 45 | 3 |
5 | HND | Nutrition in diseases/condition management | 30 |
| 30 | 3 |
|
| Total | 180 | 45 | 225 | 15 |
ENTRY REQUIREMENT
Admission requirement
To gain admission into the Diploma in Human Nutrition and Dietetic course, a candidate must, first, satisfy the general requirements for admission to NIHS at a diploma level. In addition, a candidate shall be eligible for admissions to the DHND 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 general
|
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+ |
Others | Senior certificate | certificates equated to equivalent S.4 with at least 3 credits obtained in one sitting or a Certificate in a relevant discipline from a recognized institution. |
Field placement and attachment
PEH field placement and attachment (4weeks)
COURSE FEES (PER SEMSESTER PER ACEDEMIC YEAR)
Fees | New student | Continue student |
Tuition (per semester) | 90,000SSP | 74,000 SSP |
Functional/administrative | 100,000SSP | 60,000SSP |
Total | 190,000 SSP | 134,000SSP |