Prof. Salau Din Myia
HOD, Department of Public Health
CIST College
Central Institute of Science and Technology, popularly known as CIST, affiliated to Pokhara University, was established in 2066 BS. It is a well established and leading college in the field of health education. Currently, CIST offers Bachelor in Pharmacy (B.Pharm), Bachelor in public health (BPH) and Master in Pharmacy (M.Pharm.).
Prof. Salau Din Myia is the HOD, Department of Public Health of CIST College. In the initial phase, Public Health Program was operated by Institute of Medicine (IoM). During the time of starting this program in Nepal, no universities in the world had started this program in undergraduate level. Realizing its need, Nepal Government has made the provision of public health officer at every district hospital. Similarly, in regional level hospital, a public health officer has been made compulsory. In the later days, the government has made the provision of a hospital in each local level government which has abruptly increased the demand of BPH as public health officer.
What are the strengths of Bachelor of Public Health (BPH) program in Nepal?
In fact, the syllabi of BPH have covered a wide range service area in the health sector. It has covered basic science, health economics and policy planning in health sector. Policy planning is the core area of BPH course. The course has included the manifesto of political parties related to health under health policy planning. Indeed, it is jack of all and master of none since it covers a variety of health related courses. After the country has been restructured in federal system, the government has adopted the policy of establishing at least one hospital in each local level government as there are 753 local level governments. This campaign has created huge job opportunities for the human resources of BPH program. The graduates of BPH not only get job opportunities also can be entrepreneurs in this sector. In addition, those graduates can involve in governmental jobs, NGOs, INGOs and private sector, and even they can establish research center and consultancy related to health services. Such workforce is able to prepare for disaster management and can forecast the possibility of epidemics and its controlling mechanism.
Other health programs are linked with patients but BPH is linked with normal people so that it creates awareness among them not to be sick.
Could you please tell us the distinct features of CIST College which distinguish it from its contemporaries?
CIST has been operating BPH, B. Pharma and M. Pharma programs. All the faculty members are experienced, qualified and widely recognized personalities. Our Principal Prof. Nabin Shrestha is an international research expert in public health. Our HODs are highly recognized and highly experienced, too. The college has prepared own calendar based on the programs of Pokhara University. We strictly follow all the activities which are included in the calendar. The college focuses on field work and student exposure. Similarly, it has rich physical infrastructure and sufficient facilities for its learners. All the classrooms are air conditioned and well-furnished. We provide research and short term training to students. HPLC machine of Pharmacy is available only at CIST.
How do you acknowledge the achievement of your graduates in the global setting?
The students produced by this college in BPH, B Pharma and M Pharma are highly qualified and diligent, many of whom have achieved leading positions in governmental jobs, NGOs and INGOs. Similarly, many of them have become researchers, too. And some of our graduates are university lecturers. Similarly, many of them have shown their outstanding performance in higher studies and have been awarded PhD decoration from national and international universities.
What are the convincing features of BPH program offered by the Pokhara University?
The BPH program of Pokhara University is extensive and timely-updated. It has adopted semester system which encourages students to study regularly. The lab-based practical classes are in the first and second semesters and integrated concurrence in the third, the fourth and the fifth semesters. The students have to go to field for data collection compulsorily in the third, fourth and fifth semesters which enhance their confidence and practical skill to deal with community people.
What suggestions would you like to give ten-plus-two graduates who are in pursuit of health course in Nepal?
Public health is one of the demanded and important courses in bachelor level. If any students build up their competency, their demand will be high in national and international job market. So, I suggest students they should study BPH for their professional careers in the health sector. CIST College is fully committed to imparting globally acclaimed quality education in BPH and B Pharma. It also helps students acquire a job immediately after completing their bachelor study. So, I suggest them they should visit CIST College and ensure their bright academic careers.
