PROPOSED CURRICULUM for BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMMUNITY HEAL TH

Abstract

The context of people's lives determines their health. Individuals' and communities' health status is not only a function of accessibility to health care. Yet most training of practitioners of community and public health focus almost primarily on the health system and what the health workforce can offer. Individuals and communities are seen as docile recipients of what the health system can offer. This programme aims to produce community health practitioners who will change this paradigm by helping individuals and communities' to focus on the myriads of potential to harness those resources and utilize them effectively to advance their own health and well being, through active participation in their health development.

The BSc in Community Health aims to equip its graduates with in depth knowledge, skills and attitudes (competencies) to facilitate community capacity building and empowerment to enable them (communities) to take control of their Lives, health and well being. This will enable communities to participate in activities towards the achievement of the MDGs at the community level.

The graduates will work with communities to address factors that determine and impact on their health and facilitate them (communities) to deal with those factors that enhance their health, including the individuals and communities themselves, especially their lifestyles; the environment, and the myriads of so called disease causing agents, inter alia.