Communicable Diseases
Communicable, or infectious diseases, are caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. They are spread, directly or indirectly, from person to person, and through bites from insects. They are also caused by ingesting contaminated food or water. Some infectious diseases areknown as zoonotic diseases, infecting both humans and animals.
Communicable diseases are found everywhere, however, they represent a real threat to life and are responsible for poor school performing and loss of economic productivity in the tropics and sub-tropics. Their presence in an area is determined by poverty, illiteracy, poor housing conditions, poor sanitation, lack of safe water supplies, climatic factors, social and economic activities, deforestation, rapid urbanization, and environmental conditions. Their spread from country to country and through continents is facilitated by travel, globalization, climatic changes, population movement, war, and unrest. Some communicable diseases occur in an epidemic form and resurge as a result of control programs destruction and persistent disaster and emergency conditions.
Preventing and controlling the spread of communicable diseases is at the heart of the work of health ministries and public systems. There are many ways to do that including vector control, vaccination, safe water supply and environmental sanitation, hand washing, and using drugs. However, a sustainable impact is expected with socio-economic development, community involvement, inter-sectoral cooperation, enforcing laws and regulations particularly in urban settings, and strong public health systems. Collaboration between neighbouring countries and regions is of paramount importance. Research and innovation in all fields related to communicable diseases should lead all these efforts.
Each training course is delivered in (12-30) Learning Hours. These courses can be taken as part of the three-month programs (Post Graduate Diploma Certificate), or as stand-alone courses. The participant will be awarded a Certificate of Successful Completion upon meeting the course requirements by the International Academy of Public Health (IAPH) and accredited by the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA).
