National Diploma (ND) in Public Health Technology

The National Diploma in Public Health Technology is a two-year full-time programme that gives students the academic and practical training needed to support public health work in communities. It aims to equip students to help prevent disease, promote health, and manage health data, working under supervision in local public health settings.

Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Acquire basic public health skills to work at the community level.

• Perform community diagnosis and mobilisation.

• Promote health education and implement health promotion initiatives in communities.

• Collect, analyse, and present health data for decision-making.

• Assist in preventive and promotive public health programmes.

Admission Requirements

To gain admission into the ND Public Health Technology programme, applicants must meet the following:

• Five (5) credit passes in SSCE / WAEC / NECO / GCE ‘O’ Level, or equivalent, not in more than two sittings.

• Credits must include: English Language, Mathematics, Biology or Health Science, Chemistry, Physics.

Duration & Structure

• The programme lasts 2 years (four semesters).

• It involves classroom lectures, laboratory practicals, and a field or community practicum (Supervised Industrial Work Experience Scheme – SIWES) usually at the end of the second year.

• Each semester is about 17-18 weeks, including registration, assessments, examinations, plus lectures and practical sessions.

Core Content / Professional Courses

Among the topics students will study are:

• Introduction to Public Health and Environmental Health

• Health Promotion and Education

• Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Biostatistics

• Occupational Health & Safety

• Public Health Ethics, Law and Policy

• Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management

• Nutrition and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) issues

• Community health practice and field work/supervised clinical practice.

Assessment

• Students are assessed via a combination of theory, practicals, laboratory work, field assignments, and continuous assessment.

• There is also a project or field-practicum and completion of SIWES during the programme.

Career Opportunities

Graduates can work in:

• Local government health departments and public health agencies.

• Community health services and non-governmental organisations.

• Environmental health and sanitation programmes.

• Health promotion and disease prevention units.

• Data collection, monitoring & evaluation roles in public health projects.