Introduction
AMREF pioneered the use of Distance Education to provide Continuing Education to Health Workers in Eastern Africa.
AMREF Headquarters currently runs 10 print based courses also known as Correspondence Courses.
The print based courses are of two types. The first types of courses are based on AMREF manuals and often refer students to read the manuals as they go through the unit. The second types of courses are self contained. They do not rely on any reference manual. Each unit contains the necessary basic information for the learner. One can refer to any book on the subject to enrich one’s knowledge but can do the assignments without having to refer to any other sources.
Why AMREF Uses Distance Education?
- It could reach Thousands of health workers simultaneously
- Health workers remain on their job as they also update their knowledge hence improving job performance.
- It offers reference materials that health workers can consult when need arises.
- It responds to immediate training needs as they arise eg on HIV/AIDS, a unit was developed on this
- AMREF’S Mission is to empower the people of Africa to enjoy better health and one way of doing this is through Capacity Building, Research and Advocacy. Distance Education enhances the capacity of PHC in three areas.
Courses
The following are the 10 correspondence courses and their contents:
Child Health:
This is a self contained 16 unit course. Its content includes: How to take a sick child’s history, perform physical examination, all the necessary precautions that should be observed and the concept of IMCI to ensure proper management of a sick child. Child growth and development; Health Education; Promotion and counselling; Nutrition; Immunization; Malaria; Diarrhea; Acute respiratory infections; Ear, Nose, and throat (ENT); Anemia; Internal Gelminths; Other conditions such as Dental and Eye problems and skin diseases; Mental Health problems; Common injuries and accidents; Disabilities and Rehabilitation. (A unit on HIV/AIDS is being written)
Communicable Diseases:
This is a 12 unit course based on the communicable Disease Manual published by AMREF. Course content includes: Introduction to Communicable Diseases; Contact Diseases (Skin and Eye conditions); sexually Transmitted Diseases; HIV/AIDS; Malaria; Diseases spread through faecal-oral route; Diseases caused by intestinal worms; Immunization; Air-born Diseases; Tuberculosis and Leprosy; Cleanliness; Sterilization and cross infection control.
Medicine:
This is a 16 unit course which covers non- communicable Diseases in adults. The course content includes: Diseases of the cardiovascular system; Diseases of the lungs; Diseases of the urinary system; Diseases of the joints & connective tissues; Diseases of the nervous system; Diseases of the blood & reticuloendothelial system; Diseases of the nose, throat &larynx; Diseases of the endocrine glands; Diseases of nutrition; Poisoning; Common skin diseases in the tropics; Heat illness, hypothermia and allergic conditions.
Community Health:
This is a 16 unit based on the Community Health Manual published by AMREF. It is divided into two parts: part one and part two. Part one is the main part of the course while part two has the supplementary units. Both parts of the course must be completed.
Content for part one includes: Introduction to Community Health; Introduction to Community Health Diagnosis and Community Health problems; Behaviour and Environment; The Population of Kenya; The pattern of Health and Diseases (Epidemiology); Organisation of Health services; Community Health Techniques; Administration of Health Centres and Dispensaries; Special Services in Community Health; Review. Part Two: Maternal Child Health; Immunisation; Nutrition; Environment; Child Spacing; Health Services for Special Groups.
Environmental Health:
This is an 8 unit course based on the Community Health Manual Published by AMREF. It starts by giving an overview of Environmental Health and then it goes on to: Environmental Health surveys; Personal Hygiene; Effects of Housing on Health; Waste Disposal; Food Hygiene; Water and Health; Health and Vector and Health of the Community.
Family Planning:
This is a 13 unit course covering: Introduction to Population and Family Planning ; Anatomy and Physiology of both Female & Male reproductive system; Contraceptive methods including Natural Family Planning methods; Management of integrated MCH/FP; community mobilization for MCH/FP; Counselling of FP; FP Client Management; STD and HIV/AIDS in relation to FP; monitoring and Evaluation of FP services. This course teaches how to insert a coil, for example and you can be given a practical demonstration if you request.
Helping Mothers to Breastfeed:
This is a simple 8 unit course developed for Family Health Field Educators when there was a big campaign for Breastfeeding. It covers: Helping Mothers to Breastfeed; The milk production and how a baby sucks; Composition of Breast milk, the advantages and disadvantages of artificial feeding; Various Techniques and appliances used for expressing milk; Health Education and counselling to individual families and communities.
Immunisation:
This is a self contained 8 unit course with the following content: Introduction to Immunisation; Childhood immunisable Diseases; Cold Chain maintenance; Ordering supplies and record keeping; Conducting immunisation sessions; Disease surveillance and supervision.
Mental Health:
This is an 8 Unit course based on the AMREF Mental Health Book. Course content: Common Psychiatric conditions, their presentation, causes, and management Problems of Childhood and adolescence; Personality Disorders; Alcoholism and Drug abuse; Organic brain disorders; Epilepsy; Mental Sub- Normality and psychiatric Emergencies.
Obstetrics and Gynecology:
This is a 10 unit course which looks at the female Reproductive system and specifically discusses issues related to pregnancy and delivery and the medical problems associated with this system. Course content: Anatomy and physiology of the female reproductive system; Introduction to Obstetrics; Bleeding and Medical conditions in pregnancy; Normal Labour and puerperium; Abnormal pregnancy and presentation; Abnormal Labour; Operative Obstetrics and abnormal puerperium; Diseases of the female Genital track and Family Planning.
Cost:
| Kenyan Citizens | Non Kenyans |
| Kshs 10,000 | USD 300 |
Download the Distance Education Application Form
or write to AMREF Information for any enquiries.
