Elevating Primary Healthcare Leadership and Health Extension Expertise through Advanced Higher Education

📌 Overview

The Department of Family Health at Hossana Health Sciences College (HHSC) plays a vital role in advancing Ethiopia’s primary healthcare delivery system. Building upon a decade-long foundation of training Health Extension Practitioners at the diploma level, the Department of Family Health was established as an independent department in 2014 E.C.

This specialized post-basic degree program is specifically designed for experienced Level IV Health Extension diploma holders—particularly those with frontline service experience in rural and urban health posts. By bridging community-level experience with advanced academic training, the department cultivates ethically grounded, morally sound, and scientifically competent family health professionals capable of transforming community and household health outcomes across the region and nation.

🎯 Mission & Objectives

To empower experienced primary healthcare practitioners with advanced clinical, managerial, and preventive capabilities, cultivating leadership in family health, community medicine, and health extension specialized services.

🎓 Programs Offered

• B.Sc. Degree in Family Health (Post-Basic Degree Program)

  • Note: This program is exclusively offered to candidates holding a Level IV Diploma in Health Extension with practical work experience in health posts and primary healthcare units. (No generic degree or Level IV diploma entries).

💡 Core Competencies & What Students Learn

The Family Health curriculum builds upon frontline field experience, elevating practitioners to advanced primary healthcare leaders who master:

• Comprehensive Maternal & Child Health (MCH): Advanced ante-natal and post-natal care, immunizations, family planning integration, and integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses (IMNCI).

• Adolescent & Reproductive Health: Community education, sexual health interventions, and family life counseling.

• Chronic & Infectious Disease Management at Household Level: Community-level screening, early detection, and follow-up care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.

• Community Health Needs Assessment & Diagnosis: Planning, conducting, and evaluating targeted health interventions tailored to rural and urban family units.

• Health Post Leadership & Primary Care Management: Overseeing health post operations, supervising health extension networks, and coordinating primary healthcare unit (PHCU) referral systems.

• Applied Family Health Research & Community Service: Conducting practical field research to address pressing local public health challenges.

🔬 Department Collaborations & Advanced Horizons

The department works in close alignment with the Health Extension training framework while continuously advancing its academic scope:

• Joint Academic & Research Projects: Collaborative research initiatives between faculty and students addressing community health, nutrition, and environmental sanitation.

• Community Service & Health Post Support: Direct field attachments and technical support provided to surrounding health post clusters.

• Vision for Postgraduate Education: Actively laying the groundwork for future postgraduate (Master’s level) programs in Health Extension and Family Health specialties.

💼 Career Opportunities & Graduate Profiles

Graduates of the Post-Basic B.Sc. Degree in Family Health are uniquely positioned to serve as vital links between community health posts, primary hospitals, and health administration offices:

• Family Health & MCH Supervisors at Woreda Health Offices and Primary Healthcare Units (PHCUs)

• Senior Family Health Officers in Health Centers and Primary Hospitals

• Health Extension Program Coordinators and Community Health Directors

• Community Health Researchers & Field Evaluators in regional health bureaus and NGOs

• Clinical Mentors & Instructors for Health Extension Practitioners in health colleges and training institutes

Warm Regards,

Mr. Romadan Delil (MSc)

Head, Family Health Department