Department of Community Medicine

The Department of Community Medicine came into existence with the inception of the University of Jos in October, 1976 as a campus of the University of Ibadan. By 1980, a provisional approval was given for the use of the then Murtala Mohammed Way Hospital, now known as the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for the training of medical students, resident doctors and community health officers. The Department has maintained a steady growth in manpower and infrastructure. Currently, most of the Department is located at the new JUTH Complex, Lamingo with Community Health Officers Training Programme still located at the old JUTH along Murtala Muhammed way.

1. OBJECTIVES

The Department is saddled with the responsibility of:

i. Training of undergraduate students in Community Medicine, Public Health and Research.

ii. Training of postgraduate students in three streams; Masters in Public Health (MPH), Masters in

Clinical Epidemiology, (MCE) and Masters in Field Epidemiology (MFE).

iii. Training of Community Health Officers in the JUTH arm of the department.

iv. Collaborating with Governmental and Non-Governmental agencies in research and programmes aimed at improving Public Health as well as capacity building.

v. Providing clinical services in terms of health education, health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation through the Family Health Clinic, Occupational Health Clinic and the Comprehensive Health Centres in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

MISSION

MISSION STATEMENT

To train to the most proficient level graduate and postgraduate physicians and other health professionals that are well grounded in public health practice and research.

VISION

VISION STATEMENT

To be a Department of competent academics and researchers of international repute who are engaged in policy-informing and practice-changing teaching, research and community service.

INFRASTRUCTURES

INFRASTRUCTURES

The Department is situated at the Lamingo JUTH permanent site with 6 offices, one seminar room for students and a Public Health Laboratory and Museum for research. The above are shared facilities: actually, belonging to other departments (Histopathology and Hematology)

UNITS

The Department is made up of many units through which the undergraduate and postgraduate students pass in the process of their training, as follows:

i. Clinical Epidemiology

ii. Biostatics, Medical Informatics, Monitoring and Evaluation

iii. Social and Rehabilitative Medicine

iv. Primary Healthcare and Primary Medical Care

v. Environmental and Occupational Health

vi. Public Health Nutrition and International Health

vii. Reproductive and Family Health including gender studies

viii. Health service management and Administration

PROGRAMMES AND THEIR ACCEDITATION STATUS

The Department has the MBBS undergraduate programme for which it lectures students from 200 – 600 levels. The programme is fully accredited by the National Universities Commission and the medical and dental association of Nigeria

It also has there three Masters Programmes started in the department in 2016. They are

i. Masters in Public Health (MPH)

ii. Masters of Field Epidemiology (MFE)

iii. Masters in Clinical Epidemiology (MCE)

The Department has graduated the first five sets of the masters programme.

ACADEMIC LINKAGES AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING

ACADEMIC LINKAGES AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING

The 600 level students go for their field/industry exposure at Grand cereals and Oil Mill Ltd, Nasco, Vitaform, Cocacola, Township PHC, Tudun Wada PHC among others. This they do based on the MOU signed and the students are exposed to the practical aspect of what they learn in class and which they are expected to do as trained professionals. They also go to Gindiri in Mangu LGA, where they stay and experience rural health practice for two weeks, living and working in the community. During this period, they also have the opportunity to carry out a community-based research (Community diagnosis). This research enables them to document the health problems of the community, the health resources available to them and how they can be supported solve the problems.

FUTURE PLAN

FUTURE PLAN

i. To increase the number of lecturers in the department so as to manage the increasing number of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Department.

ii. To have structures owned by the Department because there is need for a library, more classes, offices for lecturers and laboratory for effective work.

iii. Secure and manage NIH grants by lecturers to work on in the Department.

iv. Get accreditation for the Masters programs and commence weekend (Sandwich) Masters programme and online courses for Executive Classes of masters students

v. Sub-specialize the masters students as well as begin other Masters programmes in Nutrition Epidemiology, Cancer Epidemiology, Occupational Epidemiology, Reproductive Epidemiology etc