The PG Diploma is designed to equip child health clinicians (doctors, health and rehabilitation professionals, registered nurses and medical social workers) to function more effectively at the intersection between child health and clinical care. 

The learning outcomes of the programme are designed to:

  • provide knowledge, approaches and tools in child health to medical officers, family physicians and paediatricians in public health services, especially at district and regional levels.
  • provide knowledge, approaches and tools in child health to  health and rehabilitation professionals, registered nurses and medical social workers, especially those working at primary and secondary levels of care.
  • align with the requirements of the District  Clinical  Specialist  Team  (DCST)  posts that  are part of the National Health Insurance-associated Re-engineering of Primary Health Care.
  • align with, and provide, the necessary training towards a proposed subspecialty in community paediatrics and child health. 

Content

The courses include Advocacy and children’s rights; Basic epidemiology and research appraisal; Health management and leadership; Child health policies and programmes; Optimising care for children with long term and disabling conditions; Health information systems; Quality improvement in clinical practice; Mental health in infants, children and adolescents; and Experiential learning. For 2025 students will have a choice between two elective courses: Child protection, abuse and neglect or Communication, education and training.

Courses

First Year
Course Code Course Description Credits
PED4008F Advocacy and Children's Rights 10
PED4049F Basic Epidemiology and Research Appraisal 15
PED4051F Experiential Learning - Part I 10
PED4005S Child Health Policies and Programmes 15
PED4009S Health Information Systems 10
Second Year
PED4006F Optimising Care for Long-term and Disabling Conditions 10
PED4063F Mental Health in Infants, Children and Adolescents 10
PED4003S Leadership and Management 15
PED4052S Quality Improvement in Clinical Practice 15
Choice between two elective courses for the second year first semester
PED4065F Child Protection, Abuse and Neglect 10
PED4010F Communication, Education and Training 10
     
Total Credit 120

Duration and mode of delivery

The PG Diploma in Community and General Paediatrics is a two-year part-time course.  It is a blended programme which will be delivered as synchronous and asynchronous online teaching and learning sessions.  The emphasis is on learner-centred, context-based and experiential learning.  Assessments are assignment-based.

Application and course fee structure

Closing date for applications
The closing date for applications for 2025 is 31 October 2024. 

For application-related information
http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/applications/apply/postgraduates/apply-register

For fees-related information
http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/fees-funding/fees/handbook 

International Students
International Academic Programmes Office: Tel: +27-21-650 2822/ 3740, Fax: +27-21-650 5667
Email: int-iapo@uct.ac.za, Website: http://www.iapo.uct.ac.za/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Vula : PGDip Community&Gen Paeds : Overview (uct.ac.za)

Email:  Dr Dave Le Roux at dave.leroux@uct.ac.za
Email:  Dr Lizelle Jacobs at lizelle.jacobs@uct.ac.za
Email:  Debbie Moodie at debbie.moodie@uct.ac.za
Call: +27 21 650-7215