About the session

While we have had significant public health gains in eradicating few diseases like smallpox and polio, we are still grappling with some emerging and enduring challenges such as tuberculosis-related deaths, increasing burden of mental health challenges and greater environmental health-risks. Most of the medical/​paramedical practitioners in the health domain see this as a reality in the form of rising morbidities and mortalities associated with these issues yet may struggle to figure out how to prevent these illnesses and deaths. 

Practitioners working in the social sector often encounter these concerns in their daily interactions with communities and witness their impact on people’s lives. However, they may find it challenging to initiate interventions grounded in public health. This challenge stems from the need to understand the factors shaping health outcomes, identify approaches that can improve health at the population level, and learn from evidence and practices that have been effective. Developing such an understanding requires a strong foundation in the principles and practice of public health.

Our certificate programme aims to address this need by offering foundational perspectives in public health that can guide the current or planned work among practitioners from both these backgrounds. Through this certificate programme, we aim to build perspectives that see public health holistically — beyond a fragmented understanding in terms of health systems, epidemiology, financing, nutrition.

This webinar will entail a discussion on how foundational perspectives of public health can help practitioners gain lens to look at health in a coherent manner and initiate action that is grounded in the values of equity and justice. This webinar will take the audience through the details of the eligibility, outline, courses, pedagogy and assessments for our Certificate programme titled ​‘Public Health Fundamentals: Perspectives and Practice’.

Who should attend?

This is helpful for all those coming from health (biomedical, paramedical or nursing sector) or from a larger social/​development sector who would like to initiate work in public health. Those already working in a specific health domain (such as nutrition or tuberculosis) or are engaged in a non-health domain (such as migration or livelihood) or are currently pursuing fellowships/​internships may also find this helpful to understand how we identify and address a health concern using the public health lens. 

There are several organisations/​professionals who wish to engage with public health or are already working in specific domains including mental health, disability, elderly care, nutrition [without necessarily having a formal training in public health], and they would significantly benefit from attending this webinar to understand how this programme that offers a foundational perspective of public health may help in their current practice. 

Name of speakers

Adithya Pradyumna, Arima Mishra, Edward Pinto and Mukta Gundi

Moderator

Mukta Gundi

About the speakers and moderator

Faculty, Azim Premji University, Bengaluru