The University of Namibia (Unam) health science campus recently announced three new courses that will be offered starting from 2018.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing at the health sciences campus, the dean of the faculty of health sciences, professor Peter Nyarango announced that the three new courses on offer are the bachelor of dental surgery (BCHD) (honours), bachelor of science in occupational therapy, and the bachelor of science in physiotherapy (honours).
“There is a huge shortage of health workers but with these new courses, Unam is addressing the shortage of health professionals in our country,” said Nyarango.
Admission requirements for the bachelor of dental surgery are a valid Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) or other equivalent qualification with at least 35 points on the Unam scale. Applicants should have a 2 or better on higher level or a B or better on ordinary level for mathematics and physical science. Moreover, applicants should also have a B or better on ordinary level for biology and English.
On the other hand, admission requirements for the bachelor of occupational therapy and bachelor of science in physiotherapy is the NSS certificate with at least 30 points in five subjects, a score of 2 in mathematics and 3 in physical science.
Ordinary level applicants should at least have a B symbol in mathematics and physical science. After training, students will be compelled to do internship for a period of two years. “Internship is a crucial part of the training,” Nyarango said.
Nyarango added that the curricula for these new courses have already been approved and the construction for the lecture halls are currently underway and are expected to be completed by March 2018.
Nyarango also mentioned that some training will be done outside the health campus, like the internship training that will be done at different hospitals.
“Classes are currently being constructed. They will not be big enough and they will require expansions in the near future but they will be sufficient and ready by March next year,” he concluded.
