How to Become A Public Health Specialist In South Africa

Public health specialists are trained professionals who focus their careers on developing conditions where people can be healthy. They work to make their communities as healthy as possible.

What is the role of public health specialist?

According to this document: “The tasks of public health specialists are to determine the health status of the people, the existing and potential health problems, their reasons, and the health needs of the community; to develop public policies and strategies for solving these problems; to monitor and assess public .

What is the main function of public health?

Public health promotes the welfare of the entire population, ensures its security and protects it from the spread of infectious disease and environmental hazards, and helps to ensure access to safe and quality care to benefit the population.

What are examples of public health?

Examples of public health efforts include educating the public about healthier choices, promoting physical activity and fitness, preventing disease outbreaks and the spread of infectious diseases, ensuring safe food and water in communities, preparing for emergency, preventing injury, treating water with fluoride for

Below are steps to Become A Public Health Specialist In South Africa

Though the requirements for a public health career might vary depending upon the profession, a certain amount of education will be needed or recommended. Here are the steps to making a public health career a reality.

Step 1Obtain a bachelor’s degree in public health or a related concentration

The bachelor’s degree is the bare minimum for some public health professions. Depending on the college, there may be either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree in public health offered.

Either on should give students a broad educational background in public health, allowing them to choose a master’s program to fit their individual needs.

Get a master’s degree in public health

The master’s degree in public health (MPH) is typically a professional, practice-based degree that helps graduates assume leadership roles in a variety of public health settings at the local, state, federal and even international level.

It may be offered as a Master of Science or a Master of Arts. The student will choose which of these to purse based on future career plans.

Gain work experience

This is especially important if a doctorate degree will be sought. Public health doctoral programs like to see applicants with prior relevant work experience. Ideally, a student will pursue pre-professional experience while earning a degree.

Not only does this work experience provide for more well-rounded graduates, it improves the learning outcomes, as students will have the experience and knowledge to put their learning into perspective.

Go for the doctorate public health degree

Medical scientists, advanced researchers or professors at the college or university level will almost always need a doctorate degree. And depending on the type of work, students will need to decide which type of doctorate degree to pursue.

For example, the PhD is more tailored for those interested in teaching or research. Beyond that, students will typically be expected to choose a focus. Examples of public health doctorate concentrations include biostatistics, chronic disease epidemiology, environmental health and health policy and management.

Certificates & Degrees in Public Health

Components of a Successful Public Health Career: Skills, Tools, and Technology

Skill

Analytical/Assessment Skills

Skills under this heading include: description of factors affecting health in a community; identifying and determining data and information for assessing community health; application of ethical standards in collecting, analyzing, using and disseminating data; use of information technology; selecting valid and reliable data; identifying gaps in data; and others.

Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

Skills under this heading include, among others, are: describing organizational strategic plans; contributing to health improvement planning and the development of program goals and objectives; and applying, developing and implementing strategies for continuous quality improvement.

Tools and Technology

Technology has certainly changed the world and that includes the way public health services are developed, administered and delivered to patients. Here are just a few examples of the types of tools and technology commonly used in the field:

Electronic Medical Records

The advent of the large-scale use of electronic medical records systems and networking has led to a substantial increase in the accessibility and accuracy of the medical records of individuals.

Social Media

Social media platforms are providing public health agencies and organizations with whole new and effective ways to reach the public with both general information and emergency alerts.

The CDC, for example operates a wide variety of Facebook pages and Twitter feeds with titles such as CDC Emergency, CDC Tobacco Free, CDC eHealth and CDC Eh4ol. Other agencies, including those on the state and local level have also developed emergency alert and other public health-related apps.

Types of Public Health Specialists

Just as there are various areas of public health, there also several types of public health specialists. While a public health nurse may be the professional that typically comes to mind when we think of public health specialists, there are several areas in which public health specialists might wish to pursue. Here are a few different types of public health specialists.

• Health and Safety Engineer

• Environmental Scientist

• Healthcare Administrator

• Biostatistician

• Epidemiologist

• Medical and Health Services Manager

• Health Educator

• Nutritionist

Career Outlook for Public Health Specialists

Public health specialists have a very good career outlook. The S.A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that health educators and community health workers should see employment growth of 16% .

This should result in about 137,700 new jobs created in this field. As of May, health educators earned a median wage of R 786834.65. Wages can vary a lot in this field because the field offers so many different occupations.

Working as a public health specialist can be very challenging and rewarding. What could be more rewarding than playing a part in preventing illnesses and helping a community remain as healthy as possible?

How do I become a specialist in South Africa?

In order to have their training recognized in South Africa, subspecialist trainees must have full registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and must be appointed against HPCSA-approved training numbers which the HPCSA allocates to the Faculty and against which the Faculty appoints selected .

How long does it take to become a public health doctor?

In order to work as a public health physician, candidates must complete their MD, or Doctor of Medicine degree at an accredited medical school and pass the United States Medical Licensing Exam. Medical school typically takes four years to complete and is followed with a 1-2 year medical residency program.

Where can I study public health in South Africa?

Here are the best global universities for social sciences and public health in South Africa

University of Cape Town.

University of Witwatersrand.

Stellenbosch University.

University of KwaZulu Natal.

University of Johannesburg.

University of the Western Cape.

University of Pretoria.

North West University – South Africa.

How long does it take to become a specialist in South Africa?

To become a doctor in South Africa you have to study for 6 years (5 years at UFS) or 7 years if you are on the extended programme provided you do not fail any year.

What can you do with a degree in public health in South Africa?

Careers in the public, private, or non-profit sectors might include:

Disease prevention and control.

Biostatistics (at entry level)

Community health work.

Education and teaching (Health Promotion)

Epidemiology (at entry level)

Health administration.

Health awareness, policy and promotion.

Nutrition, dietetics and exercise.

What are careers in public health?

Potential careers outcomes include: Public Health Officer, Health Promotion Officer, Health Professionals, Health Information Manager, Community Health Officer, Policy Officer, Program or Project Administrator, Education Professionals, Public health advocate, Epidemiologist, Health communications specialist, Government .

Are public health jobs in demand?

While the demand for each job varies, data suggests the overall need for public health workers is on the rise. Jobs for epidemiologists are projected to increase by 9% over the same span,3 while jobs for medical and health services managers are expected to increase by 20%.