The training of Public Health Nurses began in the early 1950’s at Certificate Level with an aim of Nurses who would provide public Health Services at the grass root level. Such a Nurse then was referred to/Called Assistant Health Visitor.

Many of us who heard and enjoyed the services rendered by the Public Health Nurses, their families got support in whole by their visits.

In the 1970s there was global recognition of the District as the nucleus for needs identification, planning, Coordination, integration and Monitoring of Health Programs. This then dictated the need for a higher level trained Public Health Nurse.

This Nurse (Assistant Health Visitor) worked as the link between the District Health Services and Community. She would be a key member of the District health Team with responsibilities in all areas of Primary Health Care team, Occupational Health Rehabilitation and other Public related matters, with such a huge demand on this Nurse, Diploma in Public Health Nursing began at Mulago in 1976.

The Diploma Program in Public Health Nursing was started to address the challenge of ever increasing population against scarce resources and limited services to address the current disease burden. Address of the sustainable Development Goals, the changing disease pattern and emergence of new diseases like Ebola, Marburg and Covid -19 as few examples and the future ones are unknown to us, but already known by the Almighty God!

Such events dear Guest of Honour have driven to the crucial need for even more Public Health Nurses at Bachelor level being long overdue, especially knowing that a Public Health Nurse at Bachelors’ level is the one who can develop, comprehend and interpret Government Policies and contribute effectively to their implementation¡

 

TRAINING PROGRAMMES :

The training programme of Public Health Nursing is post-basic.The eligible candidates include serving Nurses with a midwifery background and diploma in Comprehensive Nurses. The training aims at enhancing skills in the provision of public health services to individuals and communities.

PROGRAMMES OFFERED.

1). Advanced Diploma in Public Health Nursing

2). Diploma in Midwifery

3). Diploma in Nursing

 

DURATION OF PROGRAMMES.

Diploma in Public Health and Diploma in Community Health are each a one

year programme. The commencement of the training for both programmes is

August every year.

The Diplomas in Midwifery and Nursing are one and a half years (18 months). Both commencing in May every year and are Post-Basic Diplomas.

Who can apply?

DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING

Required entry to the ADPHN program should be one of the given

qualifications:

i). Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery (Double trained)

ii). Diploma in comprehensive Nursing

iii). Diploma in Midwifery

iv). Diploma in Nursing

Authority Responsible for the Program: Ministry of Education and Sports - the department of Business Technical Vocational Education and Training (BTVET)

AWARD:

The award shall be an Advanced Diploma in Public Health Nursing (ADPHN).

Examination and Awarding Body: The examination and awarding body shall be the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (UNMEB), Ministry of Education and Sports

Registration BodyThe registration body for the practicing license shall be Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council. (UNMC)

COURSE DURATION

Duration of the course shall be one (1) year. Information given on the average duration of training should be understood as a guideline. Duration depends on the training hours allocated per module.The modules shall be divided into semesters or any other recognized study system used at a given period.

COURSES OFFERED:

Diploma in Public Health Nursing.

i). Preventing Diseases and Disaster in Communities

ii). Foundations of Public Health Nursingiii). Promoting Health in Communities

iv). Primary Health Care

v). Preventing Diseases and Disaster in Communities

vi). Biostatistics and Demographic Studies

vii). Providing Rehabilitative Services

viii). Occupational Health and Safety

ix). Preventing Diseases and Disaster in Communities

x). Epidemiology

VISION

To be an internationally reputable Public Health Nurses Training Institution that engenders sustainable social economic development

MISSION

To produce nurses that are prepared to meet the Health needs of the community and address Public Health challenges at the National, District and Local Settings

OUR OBJECTIVE

To improve the quality of institution so as to enable the trainees improve their ethical and professional standards, attitudes and quality health care practices in order to address the health rights and needs of the population

MOTTO:

“We invest in Health for all.”