BRIEF HISTORY:

The Department of Community Medicine is one of the clinical departments of the College of Medicine of the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. The department started with the founding of the University of Nigeria Medical School in 1970 and offers courses in part fulfilment of requirements for the MBBS degrees of the University of Nigeria. Since then the department has had tremendous growth in manpower, training and materials. Starting with only a few lecturers in 1970, the department presently has specialists in almost all the sub-disciplines of Public Health. They include 5 Professors, 1 Associate Professor, 7 Senior Lecturers, 11 Lecturer 1 and 1 Lecturer 2 . Indeed it is one of the best staffed in the country both in numbers and quality of staff. Most of the lecturers are external examiners to other Universities in both their undergraduate and post-graduate colleges. Some are examiners in the professional bodies like West African College of Physicians (WACP) and National Postgraduate Medical College.  There are subunits in the Department: Epidemiology/ Biostatistics, Environmental & Occupational Health, Health Systems, Policy & Management, Primary Health Care & Health Promotion, Medical Sociology & Health Administration.

 

Post Graduate programmes: Training programs offered in the department have also increased: from an initial training of only medical students, the department now trains both resident doctors and MPH students and has given birth to the Institute of Public Health that offers MSc., PhD and DrPH programs. The MPH program organized by the department is one of the best in the country. This is run on both part-time and Full time basis. Students are exposed to wide range of Public Health issues by experienced and highly qualified professionals. Graduates of our MPH program have competed favourable in highly reputable jobs. For the Institute of Public Health the following are the sub-departments: Occupational Health and Safety; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Health Education; Health Systems, Policy and Management. Other training programs include residency training for both WACP and National Postgraduate Medical College. The department also assists in training of Community Health Officers (CHOs) and student midwifes.

 

The Community based medical education is done in a rural setting using UNTH Comprehensive Health Centre at Obukpa, Nsukka, as operational base and urban setting using the Abakpa Health Centre Enugu. It offers the medical students the necessary exposure to the essential components of Primary Health Care (PHC). Field postings are undertaken in various establishments outside the hospital for Epidemiology (Enugu State Ministry of Health) Occupational Health (EMENITE Ltd), Environmental Health (Ministry of Environment), MOH  and Rehabilitative & Social Medicine

 

DEPARTMENT’S VISION STATEMENT:

The vision of the department is  to develop high quality manpower and develop groundbreaking and innovative research in all areas of Public Health.

 

DEPARTMENT’S MISSION STATEMENT:

To produce competent doctors who will completely provide health care in any community, whether urban or rural, organise and supervise health care programme for the community and also initiate research to advance the frontiers of medical knowledge.

 

Broad Objectives:

To produce skilled doctors who will completely provide health care in any community whether urban or rural, organize and supervise health care programme for the community and also initiate research to advance the frontiers of medical knowledge.

Specific Objectives:

At the conclusion of the formal training, the graduate should be able to demonstrate that he/she has acquired the knowledge, skill and attitude to:

1. appreciate the effects of ecological, environmental, social, cultural, economic and psychological factors on the health of the community, and take appropriate measures to alleviate them
2. carry out epidemiological studies to identify the prevalent health problems in the community and also determine ways and methods of alleviating them
3. plan, implement and evaluate appropriate health programmes (promotive, curative and rehabilitative) in collaboration with other members of the health team in order to reduce mortality and morbidity in the community, and also to improve the quality of life of the people in the community
4. develop the spirit of team work in promoting health in all population groups
5. develop the skill and ability required to train other medical personnel in the subject areas of public health

DEPARTMENTS CORE VALUES

• Meritocracy

*All forms of favouritisms are discouraged; appraisals of staff are fairly carried out without bias

*Discrimination in any form is discouraged

• Positive Attitude

*Good attitude to work is strongly encouraged: coming early to work and diligent performance of duties

Respect

*Every staff is to be treated with respect irrespective of differences in opinion and social status

*Every job/activity for the department is equally important and should be recognized as such

• Integrity

*The highest standard of ethical and moral values are exhibited and encouraged at all times

*All activities are done in line with Department/University’s set rules and standards

• Teamwork

*Team spirit is strongly encouraged at all times during the course of departmental activities

*There will be sense of ownership of departmental activities by all concerned staff

*The expression of viewpoints that contribute to improvements and intellectual pursuits of the department

• Confidentiality

All confidential departmental activities and documents must be kept as such and not disclosed to unintended persons

• Creativity

*Staff are encouraged to bring innovative ideas to problem solving

 

DEPARTMENTAL ROLE IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY HEALTH

The department has a formal relationship with a community based organization. The organization runs a rural hospital: Chibugwu Comprehensive and Vocational Center, Amokwe. The center is a rehabilitation center for elderly and indigent people. The relationship was formalized 2008 following a request from a public spirited Nigerian for the department to assist in providing health services to the health center. Approval for such partnership was obtained from the Chief Medical Director of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla. Residents are posted weekly to the center to provide medical and rehabilitative services. Services provided by the residents is given free of charge. The center however provides transportation to and from the center.

 

Furthermore, the department has strengthened her relationship with some Non Governmental Organizations. Since 2009, the department provides technical support to PRAWA (Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action – and NGO owned by Barr. Uju Agomoh). The department drafted a curriculum on torture documentation and reporting for inclusion in medical undergraduate curricula. German Leprosy Relief Association has also increased her collaboration with the department in management of tuberculosis and leprosy. The assistance is in form of technical support and funding research targeted towards control of these two diseases.

The department has cordial relationship with governmental organizations. Enugu State Ministry of Health, Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ENSWAMA), Enugu East LGA and Ministry of Works have all assisted in training our medical students, postgraduate students and resident doctors.

 

 

STAFF DISPOSITION AUGUST 2018

S/N	Names	Designation	F/T	Qualifications	Area of Specialization
1.	Prof. B. S. C. Uzochukwu	Professor	F/T	BMBCH (Jos), Diploma Public Administration, MPH,  FWACP	Health Systems, Policy & Management
2.	Prof. (Mrs.) C. N. Onwasigwe	Professor,	F/T	MBBS (UNN), FWACP, FMCPH	Epidemiology & Biostatistics
3.	Prof. (Mrs.) M. N. Aghaji	Professor,	F/T	MBBS (UNN) , FWACP	Epidemiology & Biostatistics
4.	Prof. (Mrs.) T. A . Okeke	Professor,	F/T	MBBS (UNN), DPH (London): FMCPH	Environmental & Occupational Health
5.	D. F.E. Nwagbo	Reader,	F/T	BSC (UNN) , DLSTM,  MSC (London)  – Medical Demography	Biostatistics
6.	Dr.(Mrs.) A. C. Ndu	Senior Lecturer,	F/T	MBBS (UNN), MPH, FWACP	Medical Sociology & Health Administration
7.	Prof. E. N. Aguwa	Professor	F/T	MBBS (UNN) , PGDPA, MPH, FWACP, FMCPH	Environmental & Occupational Health
10.	Dr. O.C. Ekwueme	Senior Lecturer,	F/T	BSC (USA) , MBBS (UNN) MPH(UNN) FMCPH	Medical Sociology & Health Administration
11	Dr. E. A. Nwobi	Senior Lecturer,	F/T	MBBS (Jos) MPH (Lagos) MSc.(Nig.) FMCPH	Environmental & Occupational Health
12	Dr.(Mrs.) U. E. Ezeoke	Senior Lecturer ,	F/T	MBBS (Nig.) MPH (Nig.) FWACP	Primary Health Care & Health Promotion
13	Dr. C. A. Onoka	Senior Lecturer,	F/T	MBBS(UNIPORT), MSc. (LSHTM), MPH Ph.D  FWACP	Health Systems, Policy & Management
14	Dr. I. E. Obi	Senior Lecturer	F/T	MBBS (NAU), MPH, FMCPH	Primary Health Care & Health Promotion
15	Dr. I. B. Omotowo	Senior Lecturer	F/T	MBBS(UNILORIN)  FWACP	Epidemiology & Disease Control
16	Dr. C. A. Idoko	Lecturer I,	F/T	MBBS(UNIJOS), MPH (Nig.), FWACP	Health Systems, Policy and Management
17	Dr. E. C. Aniwada	Senior Lecturer	F/T	MBBS (UNICAL),  M.Sc. (Ibadan)MPH (Nig.) FWACP, FMCPH	Epidemiology & Biostatistics
18	Dr. C.O. Mbachu	Senior Lecturer	F/T	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Health Systems, Policy and Management
19	Dr. C.C. Agunwa	Lecturer 1	F/T	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Primary Health Care & Health Promotion
20	Dr. C.C. Okeke	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Health Systems, Policy and Management
21	Dr. N.C. Ugwunna	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Primary Health Care & Health Promotion
22	Dr. N.C. Ibiok	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS(Ilorin) MPH (Lagos) FWACP	Environmental & Occupational Health
23	Dr. I.U. Itanyi	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Epidemiology & Biostatistics
24	Dr.O.R. Agwu-Umahi	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH., FWACP	Environmental & Occupational Health
25	Dr. C N. Okafor	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH, MSc.	Epidemiology & Biostatistics
26	Sr. Dr. A. U. Umeobieri	Lecturer 1	FT	MBBS, MPH, FWACP	Medical Sociology & Health Administration
25	Dr. C.A. Aniebue	Lecturer 2	FT	MBBS	Medical Sociology & Health Administration