The Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (BEOHS) was established in 2003 as one of the six Departments in the School of Public Health. The Department continues to fulfil its mandate as a teaching and research Department aimed to build expertise, which will provide leadership and inform health policy reforms in the sub-region. As a Department, the primary goal is to promote and improve population human health through research, which informs good environmental practices.
The Department is composed of 4 units as follows:
- Biological Basis of Public Health
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Ecology and Ecosystem Health
- Occupational Health
The units operate independently but in an interrelated manner, which collectively delivers the broad objectives of the parent Department. The overall mission of the Department is to strengthen the capacities of individuals and institutions towards effective control of parasitic, vector-borne as well as environmentally and occupationally related health injuries and diseases in the population.
Training Programs
NON-DEGREE/TRAINING PROGRAMS
The Department offers non-degree programs in the form of formal school level certificate short courses. The short courses are designed as top-up and refresher courses for practicing professionals who desire to update/grade their skills and acquaint themselves with the tools and the application of new technologies in the field.
A: Short Course on Occupational Health and Safety
The short course on Occupational Health and Safety aims at abating the high trend in occupational accidents. The main objective of this training program is to equip participants with the necessary skills in order to eliminate work place related injuries/illnesses and accidents, with their resultant human suffering and attendant economic waste
B: Competency-based Short Course on Emergency Preparedness & Health in Emergencies
This is modular short course designed to train public health practitioners/professionals, emergency service providers (Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Ambulance service providers, Fire Service workers, Technicians in industrial establishments, etc.) who will be leaders and change agents for improved emergency service delivery so as to make our work places/environments, businesses and homes risk-free as well as contribute to building stronger institutions in Ghana in particular and Africa in general.