Non-Communicable Diseases – University of Copenhagen

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Master of International Health > Intensive Courses > Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-Communicable Diseases - Prevention and Control

- with special emphasis on international NCD programmes

"The lives of far too many people in the world are being blighted and cut short by chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes. This is no longer only happening in the high-income countries. Four out of five chronic disease deaths today are in low and middle income countries. People in these countries tend to develop the disease at younger ages, suffer longer - often with preventable complications - and die sooner than those in high income countries."
Dr. Lee Jong-wook, Director General of the World Health Organization 2003 - 2006, died 61 years old from a blood clot in his brain.

"We cannot afford to say, ‘we must tackle other diseases first - HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis - then we will deal with chronic diseases'. If we wait even 10 years we will find that the problem is even larger and more expensive to address."
Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The University of Copenhagen is offering an intensive course on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) to professionals working in or aiming at a career in the field. The course covers the main aspects of NCD prevention and control with special focus on global and national strategies. Upon completion of the course, participants will have strengthened their capacity to become better planners, managers, trainers and implementers of NCD programmes and integrated NCD care and prevention activities.

Still few available seats - APPLY ONLINE NOW!


Institution:

Copenhagen School of Global Health, University of Copenhagen

The course takes place in Copenhagen, Denmark

Course coordinator:

Professor F Maximilian P de Courten

Type:

This is an optional advanced course in the Master of International Health programme.

Duration:

14 May - 13 June 2012
Full time lectures and exercises, including a few days of individual or group study.

ECTS credits:

6 ECTS

Language:

English

Objectives:

By the end of the module, the student should be able to:

  • Examine Non-communicable diseases (NCD), compare and contrast them with Chronic Diseases and Infectious Diseases

  • Analyse the burden of NCD globally and at a national level in terms of the magnitude of the problem (economic burden, social burden and future impact)

  • Assess the social, political, environmental, cultural and economic factors contributing to the burden of NCDs in low and middle-income countries

  • Recognise major global, regional, national and local stakeholders in NCD management and prevention

  • Appraise global strategies addressing NCD

  • Examine the importance of cultural sensitivity when addressing NCDs

  • Propose and evaluate concepts of NCD surveillance, evaluation and monitoring of NCD programs

  • Revise and examine processes towards establishment of a National NCD Prevention and Control Program as part of an existing national response in a given country

  • Through practical experience, contrast and evaluate the structure, aims and importance of NGOs, government agencies, intergovernmental bodies and the private sector

  • Be able to effectively and confidently apply the theoretical knowledge gained through the course to developing NCD prevention and control strategies

Content:

The course will explore the evidence and the frameworks used to address the burden of non-communicable diseases through action on the conventional risk factors (lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure etc) but also more 'upstream factors' and the social determinants of health (e.g. urbanization, income, education, trade, health transitions).

This course aims also at providing participants with an in-depth theoretical and practical insight into how national NCD programmes can be developed, integrated and maintained in a local, national and global perspective.  

Methods:

The module is based on interdisciplinary teaching and problem-oriented learning. Lectures, group work and site visits are all important components. Group work will mainly be used in relation to specific case studies or projects. For each session, we consider the current state of research, as well as policy and practice and critically examine the underlying issues and wider context.

Students are expected to actively participate in the learning process and prepare for the sessions by studying distributed and recommended reading materials. Students are encouraged to find and study additional literature themselves and extra-curricular ‘journal clubs', where participants present and discuss the results of their searches are organized.

Two assignments, one individual and one group-based will be completed by weeks 2 and 4 of the course respectively. These will be presented to other students and the course leader.

The course will utilize real case studies from low, middle and high-income countries to reinforce the concepts taught.

Another key aspect of the course will be the inclusion of site visits to government, non-government and intergovernmental organizations involved in NCD prevention and control.

TropEd accreditation:

Accredited in October 2010.

Assessment Procedures:

Written assignment (2500 words)

  • individual assignment focusing on the NCD burden and situation in the students' home country
  • 60% of total module grade

Oral assignment (30mins)

  • group assignment for which students will develop and individually present a national NCD prevention strategy for a chosen country
  • 40% of total module grade

Grading according to the Danish 7-scale - internal moderation.

Remarks:

Download easy-to-print presentation flyer (pdf)

Prerequisites:

It is recommended that the applicants meet the Master of International Health admission criteria.

Class size:

The number of participants is limited to 40. The course may be cancelled if there are less than 12 participants.

Fees:

Reduced fee: DKK 18,500
For students from EU/EEA, and students with a DIS, Fulbright or Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship.

Normal fee: DKK 25,000
For all other students.

For approximate exchange rates between DKK (Danish Krone) and other currencies please contact your bank or visit this website. All fees are subject to regulation.

Scholarships:

We currently do not offer any scholarships, but on our site about funding possibilities we have collected some information that might be useful.