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King Ceasor University

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Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health

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Introduction

The Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health program provides students with learning experiences to help develop those skills and attitudes necessary to excel in clinical medicine and community health. The training for the Clinical Officers is three years post-secondary school (after completing the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education or its equivalent as deemed appropriate by regulatory bodies) and is comprised of clinical training at tertiary institutions. The Programme is structured in a way that allows infusion of both theory and practical training activities for students.

The program is completed in a minimum of six semesters (3 years) over three calendar years [maximum of ten semesters (5 years)] in which trainees are facilitated in different courses with a total of 140 credit units.

Programme Objectives

  1. To develop the trainee’s competencies in;
  • Proper supervision of staff management of equipment, drugs supplies and other assets and resources in health facility.
  • Promotion and maintenance of team work among health workers join a health catchments facility and catchments area, preventive medicine, promotion of health worker -­ patient relationship.
  • Preventive medicine, promotion of health worker – patient relationship.
  • Curative medicine and promotion of health worker – patient relationship.

2. To equip trainee with knowledge, skill and attitudes required to;

  • Diagnose common disease and conditions and  administer appropriate treatment including simple surgical procedures.
  • Carry out nursing and simple medical laboratory produces.
  • Identify emergencies and carry out necessary management before referral to the hospital.
  • To participate actively in the planning implementation and evaluation process of Primary Health Care, community based health care and other national programs.
  • To prevent diseases using the principles of epidemiology to be able control both communicable and non communicable diseases.
  • To promote health education to patient, special groups and the community in the catchments area through carrying out and promoting rehabilitative health services in the community.

Target groups

    1. Direct entrants with advanced certificate level of education or its equivalent
    2. Extensors with at least basic certificates in health related disciplines e.g. nursing, midwifery and laboratory sciences techniques with at least a 2 year working experience

The Diploma in Clinical Medicine and community health is a full time programme designed to take a minimum of three (3) academic years and a maximum of five (5) academic years, unless the School of Allied Health Sciences Board recommends and the KCU Senate approves otherwise.

In addition, each academic year shall be divided into two (2) semesters each lasting 17 weeks.

Direct Entry
Applicants for this program should possess the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and the Uganda Advanced Level Certificate of Education (UACE) with at least a principle pass in Biology and a subsidiary pass in any of the following subjects; chemistry, physics, mathematics, foods and nutrition.

Extensors
In order to be eligible for admission into the DCM program, extensors must possess;

    1. A basic certificate in health related disciplines e.g. nursing, midwifery and laboratory sciences technologies.
    2. Work Experience of at least two (2) years after training.

International Applicants
Applicants with foreign academic qualifications will be required to show certified proof of the stated qualifications from the relevant examination boards. They must be proficient in English Language from an accredited institution. Where necessary the applicant’s documents will have to be verified/equated by relevant bodies like National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) or Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).

At the successful completion of the program, the graduate shall be able to;

    1. Provide Health services to individuals, families and communities.
    2. Participate in administration, leadership and management of health services effectively; including assets, finances, personnel and Health Information systems.
    3. Use scientific theory, methodology and critical thinking skills to generate information (conduct research), analyze and interpret the findings and apply the inferences to improve individual, family and community health.
    4. Have continuous professional development and participate in education of other health service providers and the community as a whole.
    5. Participate in community Leadership.
    6. Take history and physical examination of patients/clients.
    7. Diagnose and manage patients in outpatient/inpatient department in a Hospital, Health Center or Dispensary.
    8. Order appropriate investigations on patients/clients.
    9. Counsel patients/ clients on and compliance to treatment in outpatient/inpatient department.
    10. Conduct appropriate referral.

Tuition fees for privately sponsored students shall be 600 USD per semester. All students are required to pay other functional and non-functional fees as may be defined on admission.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

This depicts allocation of time to various curricula activities with a total load of 140 credit units. The activities and their symbols are as follows: Overview lectures and seminars are shown as LH (lecture hours); Skills laboratory activities, practicals and clinical exposure are
shown as PH (practical hours) Tutorials sessions are shown as TH (tutorial hours)

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