Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Top-Up) in Community and Public Health
Program Summary
Develop the public health knowledge, analytical competencies, and community engagement skills required to prevent disease, promote healthier lifestyles, strengthen primary healthcare, and improve population health. This professionally oriented programme integrates epidemiology, health promotion, community participation, health systems, WASH, climate and health, health economics, monitoring and evaluation, communication, and applied research.
Program Overview
Purpose
To contribute to improved population health and sustainable development by preparing competent community and public health professionals capable of preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviour, reducing health inequalities, strengthening primary healthcare, and supporting resilient community health systems.
Goal
To strengthen learners’ competencies in community health assessment, epidemiology, health promotion, disease prevention, health systems, programme management, monitoring and evaluation, health communication, environmental health, and applied public health research.
Promoting Health. Empowering Communities. Transforming Lives.
Healthier societies begin with informed, empowered, and resilient communities. While clinical services remain essential, many of the conditions that determine health emerge beyond healthcare facilities—in households, schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods, markets, water systems, food environments, cultural practices, and public institutions.
Across Africa, health systems must respond simultaneously to infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases, maternal and child health challenges, malnutrition, health inequalities, humanitarian emergencies, environmental degradation, forced displacement, and climate-related risks. Addressing these interconnected challenges requires professionals who can combine scientific evidence with community knowledge, effective communication, ethical leadership, and practical programme management.
The Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Top-Up) in Community and Public Health at the Pan African Institute for Development – East and Southern Africa (PAID–ESA) prepares graduates to promote health, prevent disease, strengthen primary healthcare, mobilise communities, and support equitable and sustainable health systems.
Built upon more than 60 years of Pan-African academic experience, the programme integrates community health, public health practice, epidemiology, health education, health systems, reproductive health, health economics, WASH, climate and health, communication, monitoring and evaluation, statistics, and applied research.
The curriculum reflects contemporary international thinking that public health education should connect academic learning with workforce competencies, community realities, applied practice, and measurable outcomes. Current global frameworks place strong emphasis on health assessment, surveillance and intelligence, prevention, emergency preparedness, communication, collaboration, equity, environmental health, and evidence-informed action.
Students develop practical competencies through community case studies, health-promotion campaigns, data-analysis exercises, programme-design assignments, communication simulations, participatory assessments, monitoring and evaluation activities, and an independent research project. The learning approach enables students to examine health challenges from epidemiological, social, cultural, economic, environmental, and institutional perspectives.
Particular attention is given to the relationship between climate change, WASH, environmental conditions, and population health. WHO guidance identifies climate-resilient WASH and healthier environments as essential components of disease prevention and community resilience.
Graduates leave the programme prepared to contribute to health-promotion initiatives, primary healthcare, humanitarian health programmes, community mobilisation, disease prevention, WASH, health research, programme monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. They are equipped not merely to respond to illness, but to help communities understand risks, strengthen protective systems, and create the conditions in which people can live healthier and more productive lives.
At PAID–ESA, students join a Pan-African academic community committed to advancing health equity, human dignity, community participation, and sustainable development.
Prevent Disease. Promote Health. Empower Communities.
Program Objectives
- 1Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to: Assess population and community health needs using epidemiological, statistical, social, environmental, and participatory approaches.
- 2Design, implement, communicate, monitor, and evaluate evidence-based health promotion, disease-prevention, primary healthcare, and community health programmes.
- 3Strengthen equitable and resilient health systems through community participation, responsible resource management, health financing, WASH, climate-informed planning, research, and ethical leadership.
Expected Outcomes
- Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to explain the major concepts, functions, and determinants of community and public health; describe the organisation of community, district, and national health systems; collect, organise, analyse, and communicate basic population health data; conduct participatory assessments of individual and community health needs; apply basic epidemiological reasoning to health problems; design health-promotion and disease-prevention interventions; develop culturally appropriate health education and communication materials; plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate community health programmes; analyse basic health financing, resource-allocation, and equity issues; promote maternal, reproductive, family, and child health; support WASH and environmental health interventions; integrate climate-related risks into health planning; facilitate community participation and accountable health governance; conduct an applied public health research project; apply ethical principles, respect diversity, and promote health equity; and collaborate effectively with communities, health professionals, public institutions, and development partners.
Target Audience
- Ideal for holders of a recognised two-year university qualification seeking to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Community and Public Health, as well as nurses, community health workers, health educators, environmental health practitioners, nutrition and WASH personnel, humanitarian workers, NGO professionals, local government officers, social development practitioners, and professionals involved in health promotion, disease prevention, primary healthcare, or community mobilisation.
Program Details
Partners
Organized By
Pan African Institute for Development – East & Southern Africa (PAID-ESA)
Admission Requirements
- •Third-Year Entry – B.Sc. Top-Up
Evaluation
Financial Information
Programme Duration: 12 Months Programme Fees Description Amount Tuition Fee (Full Programme) XAF 900,000 ( USD 1,800) Registration Fee (one-time payment) XAF 70,000 (USD 140) Scholarship (for eligible applicants) 50% of the tuition fee Important: The registration fee is payable once only for the entire 12-month programme. Programme Cost After Scholarship Description Amount Tuition Fee XAF 900,000 (USD 1,800) Scholarship (50%) – XAF 450,000 (– USD 900) Net Tuition Fee XAF 450,000 (USD 900) Registration Fee XAF 70,000 (USD 140) Total Amount Payable XAF 520,000 (USD 1,040) Payment Options Payments may be made through any of the following methods: Bank Transfer Western Union MoneyGram Mobile Money Our Admissions Team will be pleased to assist you in selecting the most convenient payment option and guide you through the payment process. Contact and Admission Support For further information regarding admissions, payment arrangements, or application support, please contact us via: WhatsApp: +237 652 283 721 | +237 673 278 664 We look forward to receiving your application documents and welcoming you to the Pan African Institute for Development – East and Southern Africa (PAID–ESA).
Available
Prerequisites
- •A basic understanding of health sciences, biology, community development, social sciences, environmental health, statistics, or humanitarian action is advantageous but not mandatory. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in disease prevention, health promotion, community engagement, primary healthcare, health equity, and sustainable development.