Technical Officer (Community Health - Nutrition Option)

This diploma trains technical officers who specialise in nutrition within community health. It focuses on preventing malnutrition and promoting healthy eating at the household and community level. Graduates work in public health settings, supporting maternal and child health, food security, and health education.

What community health nutrition covers

Programmes of this kind usually cover the fundamentals of nutrition science, including how the body uses food and the causes and effects of malnutrition. They also include community health methods, so students learn how to assess nutritional needs in a population, plan interventions, and educate people in their own communities. Because the role is a technical one in the health system, the programme also builds communication and record-keeping skills used in health facilities and outreach work.

What graduates do

Most Technical Officers with a nutrition option work in health centres, district health offices, or NGOs carrying out nutrition screening, growth monitoring, and supplementation programmes. They also train community volunteers and give talks on infant and young child feeding, food hygiene, and balanced diets. The work combines clinical support with community outreach, so you might spend part of your time in a clinic and part in the field.

How competitive it is

Entry to this diploma is competitive. Places are limited because the programme is offered at Public Nursing Training Colleges, and the same entry difficulty applies across all of them. To apply, you need three electives in General Arts, Science, or Health Sciences. Whether your grades qualify depends on your WASSCE results, so check your aggregate against the college's published entry criteria.