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PUBLIC HEALTH-CAREER INFORMATION SUMMARY
WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH AND WHO IS A PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST?
Public health has been defined differently by different scholars. It is the science of protecting the safety and improving the health of communities through education, policy making and research for disease and injury prevention. Public health is basically the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.
Public health professionals are known by different tittles, which all depend on their job descriptions as well as the organization of work. In Zambia they are mostly referred to as the Public Health Specialists. Public Health Specialists try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research. Unlike most of the health professionals, public health has a very huge focus on the prevention of health calamities to a greater extent than is the case on the cure. Being a public health specialist enables you to work around the world, address health problems of communities as a whole, and influence policies that affect the health of societies.
WHERE DO PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALISTS WORK?
Public health specialists have a very wide job market in Zambia and the presence of HIV/AIDS and other fatal diseases have seen an increase in the need of PHS. Public health specialists can work in so many organisations, not limited to the following:
• Hospitals/clinics under the public health department which works with the mobile clinics.
• Government agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Commission.
• Nonprofits, such as the USAID, Red Cross, CHAZ and other organizations with the keen interest in public health.
• Private sector companies, such as health insurers and pharmaceutical companies.
• Colleges and universities, such as schools of public health or medicine as researchers and/or lecturers.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
Work tasks of a Public Health Specialist may vary depending on the objectives of an organization of work. PHSs often Conduct scientific researches and educate communities about health matters. They strive for healthy and safe working conditions for the public. That can mean vaccinating children and adults to prevent the spread of disease or educating people about the risks of alcohol and tobacco and they also set safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.
Public health specialists track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some people are more prone to suffer from poor health than others and they also take part in the formulation of public health policies.
Other tasks include:
• Diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards in the community
• Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues, particularly the underserved and those at risk
• Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
• Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.
• Link people to needed personal health services and ensure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable.
• Ensure a competent public health and personal health care workforce
• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST?
Most of the public health specialists in Zambia are mobile and thus making their work schedules complicated. Depending on the organisation as well as the terms of contract, most PHSs report for work from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00. Depending on the emergency of the work at hand PHSs may work very long hours and on weekends as well.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
Public health is one of the most marketable health professionals in Zambia. The government is the major employer of PHSs, however, a reasonable number of public health specialists have also secured jobs with the non-profit institutions such the USAID, UNICEF, CHAZ and many other organisations having public health as a priority. They also work in colleges and universities as lecturers or researchers.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
Like many other health science professionals, a public health specialist is meant to be the lover of science and research. The career personality calls for one with the willingness to work long hours, a team player as well as strong work ethics. A PHS should also be in possession of good communication skills (both written and verbal), capable of improvising, good interpersonal skills and analytical, computer as well as technical skills. He/she must as well be flexible.
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INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER PUBLIC HEALTH
COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time
Admitting school: School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Kitwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 212 290816 / +260 212 290815
Email: academicoffice@cbu.ac.zm
Website: www.cbu.ac.zm/fees
LEVY MWANAWASA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time and distance learning
Admitting school: School of Public Health and Environmental Sciences
Intakes: January (only)
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 974 330519 / +260 953 821693
Email: info@lmmu.ac.zm
Website: www.lmmu.ac.zm/levy-mwanawasa-medical-university-fees-structure
UNIVERSITY OF LUSAKA
Programme duration: 5 years (degree)
Mode of study: Full-time, Part-time and distance learning
Admitting school: School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 972 832671 / +260 976 075850
E-mail: registraracademic@unilus.ac.zm
Website: www.unilus.ac.zm/Fees.php