BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH
 
The department of Community Health was created in 1962. It is one of the oldest departments in the institution. The Pioneer Head of Department (H.G.D) was Prof. R.D. Wright.
  
The department is currently headed by Dr A T Onajole.The H.O.D is responsible for the day to day administration of the department. The department has dedicated members of staff made up of 5 honorary Consultants, 2 Nurses, 2 Executive Officers and 2
typists.

Services Rendered

The department offers expert clinical and community based services, provides training both at undergraduate and postgraduate level and conducts research.

The department runs clinics daily in the out-patient-department of the teaching hospital. The clinics run immunization and child welfare clinic, Family Planning Clinics, well woman clinic, endemic disease clinic and nutrition clinic. Attendance at the clinics is high' Health Education and Consulting services are also provided. The staff conducts outreach services in neighboring communities and at our external clinic at Iwaya PHC Centre.

Research activities in the department covers areas in health system development, epidemiology, population dynamics, sociology, immunology, occupational and environmental health, and reproductive health.
The department runs postgraduate training programmes including the residency training started in 1982. The programmed provides a rich learning experience for residents in different aspects of public health. The department is involved in undergraduate training of medical students in 200 level, 300 level and 600 level.

Achievements
The department has achieved for itself a reputation in postgraduate education. It has successfully initiated several programmes including the first M. P. H. Programmes in West Africa. The department supports residency training in public health which leads to the award of Fellowship of the Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians. Over 50% of all fellows of the national college in public health were trained in the department and most of the remaining fellows (through examination) have attended one short course of the others in the department.

The department has improved its capabilities in data management and now has a Computer Laboratory. The departmental library now stocks current journals and electronic data bases in public health.

Strengths and Opportunities

1. Manpower - The department have staff who are dedicated to the
      institutions objectives.

2. Institutional memory and experience
 
3. Collaboration - The department collaborates with various international
    agencies and has benefited from them.
 
4. Training - Have successfully initiated and sustained high quality
     training programmes.
 
5. Location - Lagos with its high population is an opportunity as it serves     as a “Community Laboratory"
 
6. Partnership - Opportunities exist for imitation and strengthening ,
    partnerships with NGO'S, Government Agencies, Private Organization     to benefit from their support and experience.

Training
1. Training of medical, nursing, midwifery, laboratory science and radiography students in public   health.
2. Residency training programme in public health for National Postgraduate Medical college of Nigeria Fellowship and West African College of Physician Fellowship.
3. Master of Public Health (MPR).
4. Master of Science (MSc) in public health: Epidemiology. t 5. Master of Science (MSc) in public health: Biostatistics.
6. Master of Science (MSc) in public health: Health Management.
7. Master of Science (MSc) in public health: General Public Health.
8. Training of community health extension workers (CHEWs) and community health' officers (CHOs).
9. Organization of update courses on principles of Public Health, Research Methodology and Health Management in collaboration with National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
10. Organization of short courses for health personnel.

Services

1. Child welfare and immunization outpatient clinics.
 2. Endemic diseases outpatient clinics.
 3. Nutrition clinics.
4. Family planning clinics.
5. Breast and cervical cancer screening.
6. Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) clinics. 7. Adolescent reproductive health clinics.
8. Directly observed therapy short course (DOTS) clinics for management of tuberculosis.
9. Community based primary health care clinics at Pakoto in Iron Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.
10. Peri-urban primary health care clinics at Ogungbaiye Primary Health Centre, Mushin,
Lagos.
11. Outreach activities to communities.