Community Epidemiology and Disease Control
PGD Community Epidemiology and Disease Control 2024/25
Description
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.
Course Dates
Course start dateMonday, 8 December 2025
Course end dateMonday, 5 January 2026