The School of Community Health is one of the multi – disciplinary schools run by the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.The CHO Training is managed by the hospitals School of Community Health and officially regulated by The Community Health Practitioners’ Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) Abuja.The national regulatory board that accredits training and licensing of graduates to practice.

The Institution was the brain child of the government of the then Western State of Nigeria. In 1967, the Western State Government decided to establish a medical school in its University at Ile-Ife which was then five (5) years old to provide manpower to tackle the health problems of the state. After a period of careful planning, the Faculty of Health Sciences was created in the University of Ife on 8^th May, 1972. The teaching hospital that was to serve as a clinical facility to the medical school was established in July 1975. It was taken over by the Federal Government later that year.

Academic/Professional Qualification

This School is structured on semester basis and has lecturers drawn from within and outside the institution based on the guidelines from the curriculum designed by the CHPRBN Abuja

The school is currently running two tracks concurrently depending on prior qualification

Two (2) years programme for qualified CHEWS with post qualification experience and five olevel credit passes in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics at not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECOplus a currentpracticing license issued by the CHPRBN.

One(1) year accelerated programme for qualified CHEWS and holders of relevant first degrees/HND in community health with five olevel credit passes in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics at not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECOplus a currentpracticing license issued by the CHPRBN.

Certificate Awarded

Higher Diploma in Community Health is awarded at the end of the training.

Major Functions of School of Community Health

• Admission of candidates via competitive written and oral interviews yearly with entry requirements as stated above.
• To provide efficient, effective, qualitative and holistic training designed to meet the needs of the students by well trained, motivated, courteous and dedicated staff of the school who can interpret the curriculum and apply various teaching methods to suit the needs of the students.
• To improve and maintain quality of the training through effective monitoring of students during weeks of teaching and periods of practical experiences within and outside the hospital and align training with national PHC goals and regulatory standard set by CHPRBN
• To ensure discipline among the students by enforcing the school rules and regulations within the school and hostel.
• To evaluate students and taking cognizance of the following areas: Punctuality, attendance ,attitude to work, interest in clinical practice areas, academic performance and technical competence which is done objectively.
• To Prepare students for professional qualifying examination and to ensure excellent performance in all examinations both internal and external.

Location

The School of Community Health is located in a well conducive area within the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.

Vision

To be a School with a clear focus on production of relevant human resources for efficient Primary Healthcare Services in Nigeria.

Mission

To train competent Health Practitioners that will be efficient, self-reliant, productive and can stand the test of time.

Practical Experience.

The curriculum of training blends classroom theory and field practice therefore theschool exposes its students to weeks of supervised rural/urban and clinicalpractical posting experiencesat the under listedclinics and health facilitiesand not limited to this within and outside the institution.

Rural/Urban Postings

• Urban comprehensive health center Eleyele.
• Comprehensive health center Enuwa.
• Primary health care center Aderemi.
• Primary health care center Itasin.
• Primary health care center Moore.

Field work

• School health programmes
• Supervised community diagnosis
• Community health promotion and outreach.

Clinical Postings

• Accident and Emergency department
• Family planning clinic
• Eye Clinic
• Ear Nose and throat Clinic
• Dental Hospital
• Mental clinic/ ward
• Communicable disease clinic
• Laboratories i.e Hematology, Microbiology, Chemical pathology

Special Trainings

• School of family health Ibadan
• Institute of Human Virology (IHVN).

Teniola O.A Mrs,
School Head