Post Graduate Diploma in Community Epidemiology and Disease Control

Programme Overview for Prospective Students

Specialize in protecting community health through evidence-based disease prevention and control strategies with this comprehensive postgraduate programme. Designed to equip community health professionals with advanced skills in epidemiological methods, outbreak investigation, and disease surveillance, this diploma addresses critical gaps in public health response systems while building capacity for evidence-informed decision making at the community level in Nigeria.

Programme Structure

First Semester (18 Credit Units)

Establish foundational knowledge in epidemiological principles and disease classification systems.

Course Code	Course Title	CU	LH	PH	CH
CHID 711	Applied Epidemiology	3	45	-	45
CHID 712	Epidemiology of Communicable Diseases	3	30	45	75
CHID 713	Epidemiology of Non-communicable Diseases	3	30	45	75
CHID 714	Epidemiology of Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases	3	30	45	75
CHIG 711	Bioethics	3	45	-	45
CHIG 712	Research Methods and Seminar	3	45	-	45

Second Semester (22 Credit Units)

Develop advanced skills in disease control, outbreak response, and community health management.

Course Code	Course Title	CU	LH	PH	CH
CHID 721	Neglected Tropical Diseases	3	30	45	75
CHID 722	Outbreak Investigation and Responses	3	30	45	75
CHID 723	Disease Surveillance	3	30	45	75
CHID 724	Practicum	4	-	-	-
CHIG 721	Community Health Management	3	45	-	45
CHIG 722	Research Project	6	30	180	210

Total Programme: 40 Credit Units | 840 Contact Hours

What You Will Learn to Do

Epidemiological Principles and Methods:

Apply core principles and methods of epidemiology to community health challenges
Conduct population health assessments and disease burden analyses
Implement disease surveillance systems for communicable and non-communicable diseases
Investigate disease outbreaks using systematic epidemiological approaches
Collect appropriate samples for public health laboratory testing and analysis

Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Analyze large health datasets using statistical software packages
Identify disease patterns, trends, and risk factors in community populations
Interpret epidemiological data to inform evidence-based public health interventions
Design epidemiological studies appropriate for community settings
Present data findings through reports, dashboards, and visualizations

Communication and Collaboration:

Communicate complex epidemiological information clearly to diverse audiences
Explain findings and recommendations to community members, healthcare professionals, and policymakers
Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary public health teams
Develop targeted interventions to address health disparities across community groups
Manage multiple tasks simultaneously while prioritizing public health goals

Who Should Enroll?

Community Health Practitioners seeking specialization in disease control and epidemiology
Public Health Officers responsible for disease surveillance and outbreak response
Primary Healthcare Workers involved in disease reporting and monitoring
NGO Staff implementing disease control and prevention programmes
Healthcare Professionals expanding their epidemiological skills
Government Health Department personnel managing public health data systems

Career Pathways

Community Epidemiologists in local government health departments
Disease Surveillance Officers for state and national health systems
Outbreak Investigation and Response Team Members
Public Health Data Analysts and Monitoring Officers
Neglected Tropical Disease Programme Coordinators
Communicable Disease Control Specialists
Research Officers in epidemiology and public health studies

Programme Highlights

Practical Focus: Includes hands-on practicum in disease surveillance and control
Comprehensive Coverage: From communicable diseases to non-communicable disease epidemiology
Outbreak Response Training: Specialized skills in investigation and containment
Research Integration: Complete a community-based epidemiological research project
Data Analysis Emphasis: Statistical software application for public health data
MCPD Accreditation: Counts toward Mandatory Continuous Professional Development
National Relevance: Addresses Nigeria's specific disease control priorities

Key Competencies Developed

Deep understanding of epidemiological principles and population health concepts
Proficiency in statistical analysis software for health data management
Excellent communication skills for diverse stakeholders and audiences
Effective collaboration with healthcare professionals and policymakers
Multitasking abilities for managing competing public health priorities
Understanding of health disparities and targeted intervention development
Adherence to ethical principles and regulatory guidelines in public health practice

Disease Focus Areas

Communicable diseases: Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, cholera, measles
Non-communicable diseases: Hypertension, diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases
Emerging and re-emerging diseases: COVID-19, Lassa fever, Ebola, other viral hemorrhagic fevers
Neglected tropical diseases: Onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths
Vaccine-preventable diseases: Polio, yellow fever, meningitis, diphtheria

Why This Programme Is Essential

Addresses critical gaps in Nigeria's disease surveillance and response systems
Builds capacity for evidence-informed decision making in public health
Provides skills for preventing and controlling disease outbreaks in communities
Supports national efforts to achieve health security and pandemic preparedness
Enhances career opportunities in the growing field of public health epidemiology
Empowers communities to participate in disease prevention and control activities

Become a specialist in community epidemiology and contribute to strengthening Nigeria's public health defense systems. Equip yourself with evidence-based skills to detect, investigate, and control diseases while promoting population health and preventing outbreaks at the community level.