Public health plays a vital role in improving the well-being of populations by promoting health education, preventing diseases, and creating policies that protect communities from various health threats. The Fundamentals of Public Health training course, offered by the British Academy For Training and Development (BATD), is designed to provide healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of the core principles and practices in public health. It addresses a wide range of issues, including health promotion, disease prevention, epidemiology, health equity, and global health, with a particular focus on the dynamics between health systems and health policy.

This training course offers an insightful exploration into the broader scope of public health, emphasizing the importance of social determinants of health and health equity in influencing health outcomes across diverse populations. With the growing challenges presented by infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and global health disparities, this training course will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle health challenges at the community, national, and global levels. By completing this training course, participants will have a solid foundation in the key principles of public health research, biostatistics, and surveillance systems, as well as a deeper understanding of health literacy and behavioral health.

The Fundamentals of Public Health Training course offers a structured curriculum designed to provide healthcare professionals with a thorough understanding of key public health concepts, strategies, and practices. Below is an outline of the modules included in the course:

Module 1: Introduction to Public Health

• What is Public Health?: An exploration of the history, principles, and role of public health in improving population health. We will define public health and introduce core concepts such as health promotion, disease prevention, and health policy.

• Health Systems: Overview of how different health systems are structured globally, with a focus on the integration of healthcare delivery models that support public health and community health.

• Global Health Challenges: A discussion of major global health issues, including infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and global health disparities.

Module 2: Epidemiology and Disease Prevention

• Epidemiological Methods: Introduction to key epidemiological methods, including data collection, surveillance systems, and epidemiological studies such as case-control studies and cohort studies.

• Health Risk Assessment: Analyzing health risks and how biostatistics can be used to evaluate the impact of public health interventions.

• Disease Prevention Strategies: Understanding the principles of disease prevention, including primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, and the role of preventive services such as immunization and screening.

Module 3: Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity

• Health Equity: Examining the impact of social determinants of health—including income, education, and living conditions—on health outcomes and health equity.

• Addressing Healthcare Disparities: Understanding how healthcare disparities can be mitigated through inclusive public health interventions, focusing on marginalized populations.

• Community Health: Discussing community-based strategies to improve community health and reduce the impact of health disparities.

Module 4: Health Policy and Public Health Interventions

• Health Policy Development: Understanding the policy-making process, from design to implementation, and the role of health policy in shaping public health interventions.

• Public Health Programs: How to design, implement, and evaluate public health programs that focus on prevention and health promotion.

• Health Advocacy: Introduction to health advocacy and strategies for influencing public health policy and increasing community engagement.

Module 5: Public Health Ethics and Communication

• Public Health Ethics: Discussing ethical issues in public health, such as informed consent, confidentiality, and equity in healthcare access.

• Health Communication: Exploring the importance of health communication in promoting public health initiatives, particularly in disseminating health information to diverse populations.

• Health Communication Strategies: Effective strategies for communicating public health messages, particularly in times of health crises, such as pandemics and vaccination programs.

Module 6: Environmental Health and Public Health Law

• Environmental Health: Examining the role of the environment in influencing health outcomes, including air quality, water safety, and urban planning.

• Public Health Laws: Exploring laws and regulations that impact health policy, environmental health, and health promotion, including vaccination programs and public health infrastructure.

Module 7: Public Health Research and Global Health Initiatives

• Public Health Research: Understanding the importance of research in public health and health systems improvement, including epidemiological research and biostatistics.

• Global Health Initiatives: Discussing global efforts to combat infectious diseases, address chronic diseases, and improve maternal and child health.