AFRO-NETS> Master of Public Health (MPH) Programme - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

[Adeline Kapella <mphadmin@muchs.ac.tz>]

Master of Public Health (MPH) Programme - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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25 September 2002 (for one year)

Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences
Institute of Public Health
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
in collaboration with the Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public 
Health, University of Heidelberg, Germany and Deutsche Gesellschaft 
für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Introduction
In the context of the ongoing health sector reforms (HSR), the demand 
for health professionals, including Regional and District Medical Of-
ficers with a systematic Public Health training and managerial 
skills, is urgently felt. To respond to this need the Institute of 
Public Health at the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences 
in collaboration with University of Heidelberg, Germany with support 
from GTZ is initiating a Master of Public Health Degree Programme.
Initially a maximum of 15 participants will be accepted each year, 
drawn from different health related fields. A balanced group is 
sought with respect to gender and disciplinary background.

Goal
The aim of this programme is to prepare the MPH graduate as a Health 
Management Officer, who will be a member of health planning and man-
agement committees within government as well as non-governmental or-
ganizations, a professional in public health matters. To this end, 
the graduate will be trained to acquire knowledge and skills for man-
aging health teams and for planning, initiating, monitoring and 
evaluating public health programmes or interventions. 

The educational aim of the programme is that graduates acquire compe-
tence and skills to address the following:

* To provide leadership in developing improved health services in-
  cluding establishment, supervision and monitoring of health services. 
* To promote multisectoral collaboration in planning and implementing 
  integrated health programmes. 
* To play a leadership role in human resource management, applying 
  improved communication skills. 
* To design and conduct relevant research findings as well as rou-
  tinely collected data for appropriate decision making and subsequent 
  action. 

There will be particular emphasis on communication and community 
work.Participants should be able to:
* apply communication and management skills effectively; 
* analyse the effects of cultural factors in health; 
* apply participatory approaches to the planning cycle. 

Teaching Methods
The course is based on intensive class-work, group work, independent 
study and research. Participatory teaching and interactive learning 
methods (group work, presentations based on own experience and case 
studies) are a fundamental part of the overall pedagogical philosophy 
of the course.

Eligibility
The course is designed for physicians, public health professionals, 
health social scientists and other health related professionals hold-
ing a university degree in their field (MD, BA, Post-graduate Di-
ploma) and having at least two years of working experience in commu-
nity health care, management of health services and/or programme ad-
ministration in a developing country. The programme aims at preparing 
participants to advance to leadership positions in their careers.

A high standard of spoken and written English is required. Candidates 
from non-English speaking countries are required to produce a cer-
tificate of proficiency in English e.g. TOEFL.

Course Content
The curriculum is divided into five modules plus a field study pro-
ject (dissertation). 

Module 1:
Introduction to Public Health and Orientation to the programme:
Concepts of health, determinants of health, costs and community 
health.
 
Module 2:
Assessing community health needs:
Quantitative & Qualitative research methods, Biostatistics and data 
handling.

Module 3:
Implementing change:
Communication for health and behavioural change, individual and com-
munity participation and intersectorial collaboration.

Module 4:
Special public health issue:
Reproductive & family health, National Health intervention pro-
grammes, Management of epidemics and Environmental concerns.

Module 5:
Health policy, planning and management of health services:
HMIS, health economics and financing, HSR and DHMT


Field Study Project:
Carrying out an applied research project using knowledge and methods 
learnt in prior modules. The field study forms the basis for the the-
sis which is part of the final examination.

Course Calendar
The course duration is one calendar year starting 25th September, 2002 
and ending in September the following year. This is a full-time pro-
gramme and everyday attendance is important. The first nine months 
will consist of full time course work in class and in the field. Fol-
lowing successful completion of the course work, candidates will be 
required to carry out a community problem based dissertation during 3 
months. However preparations for the dissertation will start from the 
time teaching of modules starts and candidates will be expected to 
have the research proposal documents ready for implementation at the 
end of the first 9 months.

Academic Degree and Examination
Upon successful completion of the following examination requirements, 
a Master of Public Health degree is awarded by the Muhimbili Univer-
sity College of Health Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam:
* written exams at the end of each module and end of Semester exami-
  nation,
* a dissertation based on the field study project, 
* an oral final exam at the end of the course. 

Costs and Scholarships
The course tuition fee is US$ 4,000. The living expenses inclusive of 
accommodation in Dar es Salaam and a required field work for disser-
tation is estimated at US$ 6,000. Neither the Institute of Public 
Health nor the University of Dar es Salaam offer scholarships. Appli-
cants are advised to find their own sponsors. Potential institutions 
to apply are Ministries of Health, multilateral donors (e.g. ADB, 
WHO, UNICEF, WORLD BANK) and bilateral donors (e.g. DANIDA, DFID). 
Applications for scholarships are separate from application to the 
course and the candidates will have to apply to the Director of Post 
Graduate Studies at MUCHS, irrespective of their applications for a 
scholarship.

Further Information and Application: 
Programme Co-ordinator MPH
c/o Director of Post Graduate Studies 
Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences
P.O.Box 65001
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255-22-215-3392 
Fax: +255-22-215-1596
mailto:diph@muchs.ac.tz
mailto:mphadmin@muchs.ac.tz

Deadline for applications is 15th April, 2002.

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