MASTER OF VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH

Overview

COURSE DURATION: Two (2) years

Objectives

The overall goal of this programme is to build capacity and impart skills in veterinarians and other health practitioners on Veterinary Public Health for prevention and control of zoonotic diseases,food and environmental protection and enhancement of local and international trade in animals and the products.

The overall goal of this programme is to build capacity and impart skills in veterinarians and other health practitioners on Veterinary Public Health for prevention and control of zoonotic diseases,food and environmental protection and enhancement of local and international trade in animals and the products.

 

PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy of this programme endeavours to make learners understand the role of Veterinary Public Health in ensuring the health and wellbeing of man through the provision of safe and wholesome food, prevention and control of emerging zoonotic diseases, enhancement of local and international trade in food animal their products, as well as environmental protection. The program aims to prepare learners for lifelong learning; to seek knowledge and use it to solve public health and environmental problems affecting mankind; to be creative in their thinking and innovative in solving public health issues affecting society; be a team player and a proactive participant in public health and related programs and activities.

The programme will develop learners’ ability to identify, analyze and determine the origin and trends of emerging zoonotic diseases, food and environmental hazards and to design, implement, monitor and evaluate public health and environmental protection programs that are key in uplifting the health status and wellbeing of society. The course is designed to cater for veterinarians and other qualified public health personnel interested in utilizing Veterinary Public Health knowledge and skill in solving public health and environmental challenges affecting society.

RATIONALE

Several changes are taking place the world over and these have consequences that require the attention of VPH. These changes include increasing population and changing lifestyles, increased rate of urbanization, intensification of animal production, emerging new technologies that are applied in animal production and food industry, climate change with increasing global temperatures and shifting patterns of vector-borne diseases, increased health problems related to environmental pollution, emerging and re-emerging zoonoses and accelerated trade in live animals, animal products and other foodstuffs that have accelerated the spread of foodborne infections and diseases as well as antimicrobial resistance.

Increasing population and urbanization calls for new methods of food production, food quality and safety assurance to reduce food-related infections. Intensification of animal production is associated with a concentration of disease pathogens leading to increased spread between animals and humans as well as environmental pollution. Emerging new technologies that are applied in animal production and the food industry may lead to the accumulation of chemical residues and other hazards in food to dangerous levels. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for appropriate veterinary public health skills and expert knowledge for the effective resolution of public health and environmental challenges affecting society.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the program, the student should be able to:

    1. Implement veterinary public health programs to respond to global public health challenges.
    2. Identify emerging zoonoses and foodborne pathogens
    3. Identify the reasons for the emergence and re-emergence of zoonoses and foodborne diseases and implement strategies for their prevention
    4. Analyze trends in the occurrence of zoonoses and foodborne diseases
    5. Appraise the impact of technological changes on food production and safety systems
    6. Identify environmental challenges affecting society and implement appropriate measures to mitigate against the identified challenges.
    7. Develop appropriate policies to facilitate the safe trade of animals and animal products
    8. Evaluate veterinary public health programs

 

Contacts for support:

Department of Public Health Pharmacology & Toxicology

Tel:      +254-020-4916015

Email: dept-publichealth@uonbi.ac.ke 

 

SCHEDULE OF INTAKES

Intakes are  in September every calendar year. Registration and admission for qualified applicants commences in August

 

MODE OF DELIVERY

Face-to-Face Mode

Lectures, tutorials, lecture discussions, class presentations, case studies, demonstrations, fieldwork, videos, student lecturer consultations, supervised independent research, group projects.

Open, Distance and E-Learning Mode

Home and/or office-based media using a variety of self-instructional electronic and online self-study materials, such as; written self-instructional study modules, online interactive devices and self-tests, cloud-based content, videos of lectures mediated technical learning materials e.g. audiovisual and e-learning materials.

Blended Learning Mode

A combination of face-to-face and online learning approaches.

Part-time mode

This shall involve the use of tutorials, group-based learning, problem-based learning, practicals offered on part-time basis. The contents will be delivered from 5.30pm to 9.00 pm during week days and 8.00 am-5.00 pm during weekends

The Open, Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) Mode

The ODEL mode of delivery shall involve use of various media and will largely be home or office-based. Learners will be issued with written self-instructional study materials at registration time that will include study guides in form of booklets and/or pamphlets for each course, reference books and literature, learning management systems for interactivity. Learners will use support study centers of the University of Nairobi to access information and library services. They will also receive limited face-to-face lecture and practical sessions as may be scheduled from time to time.

Semester I

JPH     610: Veterinary Public Health Administration and Practice               1x3 hours

JPH     611: Epidemiology                                                                             1x3 hours

JPH     612: Applied Biostatistics                                                                   1x3 hours

JPH     613: Molecular Epidemiology                                                             1x3 hours

JPT      614: Research Methods and Scientific Communication                     1x3 hours

Semester II

JPH     620: Food Hygiene and Quality Assurance                                         1x 3 hours

JPH     623: Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Projects                              1x3 hours

JPH     624: Zoonoses and One Health                                                           1x3 hours

JPH     625: Applied Immunology                                                                     1x3 hours

JPT      622: Food and Environmental Toxicology                                             1x3 hours

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

The following shall be eligible for admission:-

  1. Holders of the following degrees of University of Nairobi or any other university recognized by the University of Nairobi senate:
  1. Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine,
  2. Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
  1. Holders of the following degrees of at least second class honors of the University of Nairobi or equivalent qualifications from a University recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate
  1. Bachelor of Biomedical Technology,
  2. Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management,
  3. Bachelor of Science Fisheries and Aquatic management,
  4. Bachelor of Science in Microbiology,
  5. Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology
  6. Bachelor of Science in Animal Science,
  7. Bachelor of Science in Animal Health
  8. Bachelor Science in Health Public
  1. Holders of equivalent degrees from other universities recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate

Credit Transfer and Exemptions

  1. Applicants may be exempted from some courses and credits transferred from institutions recognized by the University of Nairobi senate. The candidate must have passed similar course units at the Master’s level or equivalent.
  2. Applicants seeking transfer of credit shall send a formal application to the Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as the case may be, giving justification for the request, and attaching officially endorsed supporting credentials.
  3. Candidates may be allowed to transfer up to one-third of the taught units.
  4. Application for transfer of credit shall be processed after payment of the prescribed non-refundable fees.
  5. The credit transfer shall only be valid for theory courses that shall have been attended and passed within the last five years.

 

  1. Civil service
  2. Non-governmental organisations
  3. Private practice
  4. Research with National and International Organisations
  5. Kenya Wildlife
  6. Slaughter Houses 
  7. Meat Processing Plants 
  8. Milk Processing Plants
  9. Export and Import handling facilities

Notable Alumni

1. Dr. Stella Kiambi-FAO ECTAD Country Leader Tanzania

2. Dr. Robert Onsare Monda-Deputy Governor Kisii

3. Dr. Jane Lweyero- OIE (Antibiotic focal person for Kenya)

4. Dr. Allan Azegelle- Deputy Director of Veterinary Services (Diagnostics)

   YEAR 1     YEAR 2     
   Semester 1   Semester 2   Semester 3   Semester 4   Totals 
TUITION         174,000.00          174,000.00                   174,000.00           174,000.00     696,000.00
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)             7,000.00                           -                         7,000.00                             -          14,000.00
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)             2,250.00              2,250.00                       2,250.00                2,250.00          9,000.00
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)             1,000.00                           -                         1,000.00                             -            2,000.00
CAUTION - (ONCE)             5,000.00                           -                                      -                               -            5,000.00
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)             6,500.00                           -                         6,500.00                             -          13,000.00
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)             5,000.00                           -                         5,000.00                             -          10,000.00
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)             2,000.00                           -                         2,000.00                             -            4,000.00
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)             1,000.00                           -                         1,000.00                             -            2,000.00
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)             6,000.00              6,000.00                                    -                               -          12,000.00
THESIS EXAMINATION                   30,000.00        30,000.00