South Africa’s medical sector is on the verge of transformative change. Dr Jackie Witthuhn, Head of Public Health under the IIE Faculty of Science and Technology at IIE MSA, maintains that IIE MSA is well placed to assist the sector in responding to many of the challenges that may arise as it prepares to implement these changes.
IIE MSA is a leading brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), fully registered with South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training, and internationally accredited by the British Accreditation Council. Students at IIE MSA benefit from world-class teaching and state-of-the-art facilities. This ensures that IIE graduates are well-prepared to address the complex public health challenges facing modern society.
The IIE Bachelor of Public Health Degree
The IIE Bachelor of Public Health degree available at IIE MSA is a case in point. This public health qualification – the only one of its kind in South Africa, and possibly across the African continent – aims to increase the expertise base within the medical sector by providing an education which sees graduates enter the workplace as non-clinical healthcare workers. During this degree, students complete 100 hours of field placement, where they apply health promotion theories and their skills in community and industry focused initiatives. This hands-on experience allows them to critically evaluate workplace environments, showcasing their readiness to excel as future public health professionals. The journey is not only a significant milestone in individual growth, but also a meaningful contribution to advancing public health in South Africa. By empowering students to address unique local challenges and bridging academic learning with real-world practice, the IIE Bachelor of Public Health qualification equips graduates to make a lasting impact in their communities.
These workers specialise in the detection, surveillance and prevention of disease. This greatly reduces the burden on clinical staff: a welcome addition to the knowledge base, as a report on the state of the sector released by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in September this year reveals South Africa has a doctor-to-patient ratio of 0.9 per 1 000 people. Public health graduates therefore have the potential to increase capacity within the sector, ultimately helping to strengthen it.
“Essentially, non-clinical public health workers are focused on preventing health issues before they become problematic,” says Dr Witthuhn. Their job is to prevent people from becoming ill, rather than treating them when they are already sick, which is the job of medical and clinical staff.”
Increasing the knowledge base goes hand in hand with improving performance in the sector. By freeing up clinical workers, the latter are better able to focus on providing treatment for sick patients.
“A stronger focus on health and prevention means that the model of our healthcare system could shift, from curative practice to preventative,” she says, adding that the value clinical public health workers bring to the sector means that they are able to make a meaningful contribution to South African society in an area where it is needed.
Career Opportunities for Graduates
Dr Witthuhn highlights that the growing demand for capacity across the medical sector creates promising employment opportunities for graduates.
Moreover, students who complete the degree have many avenues open to them. “Our graduates can find work across many spheres, from disease prevention and control to biostatistics and community health work. Graduates are also able to secure positions in roles such as health promotion or education, as well as entry level epidemiology, policy, leadership and governance.” Other career opportunities exist in fields such as public health project management (including planning, monitoring and evaluation), and research.
Further Studies and Specializations
In addition, the programme may serve as an entry to further studies in related fields. Dr Witthuhn noted that graduates may choose to go on to complete, for example, IIE Bachelor of Public Health (Honours) or the IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health. Alternatively, they may choose to focus on public health after completing another programme available at IIE MSA, such as the IIE Higher Certificate in Communication Practices or the IIE Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education, as these qualifications articulate into the Bachelor of Public Health.
Dr Witthuhn is enthusiastic about the positive change that public health workers can bring to the sector. “While it’s true that the sector faces many challenges, it’s equally true that the existing resources and infrastructure in place creates a solid foundation for the change that needs to take place. If we harness these resources, and supplement them with a focus on primary prevention by supporting our graduates, we would be able to improve the sector’s delivery substantially.
