Health Promotion Officer

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Qualification Overview:

The Health Promotion Officer represents a burgeoning profession within the healthcare sector, focusing on disease prevention and the enhancement of healthy lifestyles. This qualification is designed to empower learners by equipping them with a comprehensive blend of knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary to fulfill multifaceted roles as health promoters, providers, and networkers within the ambit of community development.

Individuals who attain this qualification will emerge with enhanced personal and social consciousness, equipped with a broad spectrum of cognitive and problem-solving abilities. They will be adept at navigating the challenges of community health roles in the intricacies of a developing global landscape. The qualification prepares them for a diverse array of employment opportunities across health, social, and other sectors, ensuring they are recognized as qualified professionals.

Graduates will be instrumental in enabling communities to take control of their health and wellness, thanks to their comprehensive training. They will excel as collaborative team members and as vital support personnel within multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Typically, their contributions will be made in settings that range from the client’s home to community care centers and extend to the wider community. This qualification not only fosters the development of crucial health care competencies but also supports the broader goal of enhancing community well-being through skilled and compassionate care.

 

Purpose Statement:

This qualification is designed to equip learners with the ability to:

• Conduct basic assessments for communities, households, groups, and individuals.
• Provide fundamental health education and referrals across a broad spectrum of services.
• Support individuals in accessing health and social services effectively.
• Upon successful completion, participants will have the capabilities to:
• Address simple diseases, injuries, and wounds, and make appropriate referrals to clinics.
• Deliver basic nursing care.
• Offer palliative care services.
• Measure vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration.
• Identify and manage outbreaks of infectious diseases, providing education and referral for treatment.
• Recognize and refer cases of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) after providing necessary education.
• Assess children for immunizations and refer accordingly.
• Evaluate the health of pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and their babies, referring them for further treatment when necessary.
• Conduct HIV and AIDS testing and counseling.
• Identify individuals struggling with drug and substance abuse and refer them to rehabilitation centers.
• Educate the community on the hazards of drug and substance abuse.
• Promote cleanliness and hygiene in homes, environments, and water supplies.
• Provide education on health issues specific to women, men, and children.
• Advocate for healthy lifestyle choices.
• Perform household assessments to identify individuals at risk of health-related issues, including health impairments.
• Offer information, education, and support for maintaining healthy behaviors and appropriate home care practices.
• Provide psychosocial support.
• Identify and manage minor health issues.

 

Career Opportunities Post-Qualification:

Graduates can pursue employment opportunities primarily with the Department of Health (e.g., clinics, rehabilitation centers, testing, and counseling centers) as part of the Primary Health Care Re-engineering initiative under the National Health Insurance (NHI). Additional employers include schools, waste disposal plants, water purification plants, local municipalities, mental health centers, elderly care homes, mines, health research centers, and various foundations (e.g., Cancer, Heart, Diabetes), as well as NGOs.

Entry Requirements:

• Ancillary Health Care NQF Level 1, or
• ABET Level 4 with FLC,
• Completion of Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 (no specific subjects required),
• NQF Level 1 or equivalent competencies in Mathematical Literacy and Communication.

Duration:

The program spans 12 months with two intakes annually.

Compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:

This qualification comprises mandatory modules that cover both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Articulation Options:

Graduates may progress to:

• Further Education and Training Certificate: Community Health Work at NQF Level 4,
• Further Education and Training Certificate: Community Development: HIV/AIDS Support,
• Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work at NQF Level 5.

National Examination:

Learners are required to sit for national examinations upon course completion, scheduled for March and October/November each year.

Certification:

Successful candidates will be awarded the Occupational Certificate: Health Promotion Officer by the Quality Council following the passage of the National Examination.