The School Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS)of the Catholic University provides quality, integral, holistic education, training , research and service delivery in the key Healthcare sectors that meet Cameroonian and universal expectations, in the deep conviction that knowledge so created and transmitted will serve to improve health quality by appealing to professional, humane, moral and Christian community oriented health leadership.

To be a world class School of Health Sciences committed to excellence in academic pursuits, scientific research and service to the people of God in Cameroon, Africa and the World.

BACHELOR OF NURSING SCIENCE (BNS)

Level of Studies:                    Undergraduate Studies

Specialty:                              Nursing

Degree Offered:                    Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BNS)

Duration of Studies:             Four Years (Eight Semesters)

Objective of Degree Programme

To train nurses who are equipped with requisite knowledge, modern scientific reasoning and competent in appropriate application as relates to the discipline in their daily performance of given tasks as a member of a health team.

Specific Objectives

The four – year BNS programme aims to equip its graduate nurse to be able to:

• Practice skilled, personalised, dynamic and comprehensive holistic nursing care in any clinical setting.
• Apply the nursing process in planning nursing care for patients in the hospital and community settings.
• Utilise scientific principles and reasoning in the problem solving process in rendering nursing services in hospitals, communities and other settings where health care is provided.
• Employ sound clinical judgement when making decisions on behalf of the patient assigned to his or her care.
• Exhibit leadership and management skills in the coordination and delivery of nursing care.
• Exhibit professional ethics and moral judgement in patient care decisions and relationships with other colleagues of the profession.
• Co-ordinate delivery of high quality and holistic care.
• Apply evidence based practice in the improvement of nursing care in hospitals and community settings.

INTERNSHIP:

Internship is an integral part of the training and counts towards graduation. All students are required to participate in inter-session internships for 3 weeks every second semester during the first 3 years, and for eight months of their last year in selected hospitals and health centers. They will rotate through the following disciplines:

• General Medicine Internship;
• General Surgery internship;
• Pediatric/Neonatal Nursing Internship;
• Psychiatric Nursing Internship
• Operating theatre, Intensive Care and Anesthesia Internship;
• Obstetrics & Gynecology Internship.
• Oncology/Hemodialysis.

Employment Opportunities

The knowledge and skills obtained by a BNS graduate from CATUC provides the graduate with the opportunities to be Self-employed, government and non-governmental organizations employed, as well as the possibilities to teach in professional and/or research institutions.

Admission Requirements

1. Five Ordinary Level passes including the English Language, Mathematics and Biology.
2. Advanced Level passes (at least two subjects including Biology)

• State Registered Nurse, with passes in five GCE Ordinary Level subjects (English Language, Biology and Mathematics inclusive), plus at least one A/Level pass preferably in a science subject.

All candidates are required to sit for and pass a competitive entrance examination (written and oral). Certificate grades are also scored as part of the competitive examination. 

Graduation Requirements

For successful completion of the programme a student is expected to cover a total of 256 credits to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BNS).

Level of Studies:        Undergraduate Studies

Specialty:                    Medical Laboratory Sciences

Degree Offered:         Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.MLS)

Duration of Studies:  Four Years (8 Semesters)

Mission

To produce graduates with advanced scientific knowledge and innovative research minds who will contribute to health policies at the local, national and international levels.

Objective of Degree Programme:

• To train competent, inquisitive medical laboratory scientists
• To expose the students to multi-disciplinary Biomedical Sciences
• To enhance and equip students with research skills through Research Methodology

Skills to be acquired:

• Use of a wide range of biomedical science technology and equipment
• Confident and proactive in initiating and leading the health team in laboratory based research
• Innovative in development of new biomedical techniques
• Academically eligible to proceed to Postgraduate studies

Admission Requirements:

1. Minimum of five  Ordinary Level passes including the English Language Chemistry and Biology
2. Minimum of two Advanced Level passes with a at least a “C” grade in Biology, in addition to the ‘O’ Level passes.

• Candidates must sit for and pass a competitive entrance examination (written and oral).

Requirements for the Award of BMLS Degree:

The student is expected to cover a minimum of 256 Credits to obtain the degree of Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.MLS). These hours span through lectures, field work, laboratory practicals and tutorials.

Degree format

The BMLS degree shall be classified according to the existing CATUC and University of Buea (UB) classification system of all undergraduate degrees. However a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses is required for graduation. The degree obtained shall be classified based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) attained at the end of the course.

Employment and Progression Opportunities:

Our graduates will be fully and academically equipped for employment in government and non-governmental health and research establishments both at national and international levels. They are eligible to proceed to Postgraduate studies in any of the medical laboratory science fields at home and abroad

Level of Studies:                    Undergraduate Studies

Specialty:                              Biomedical Sciences

Degree Offered:                    B. Med. Sc. (Bachelor of Medical Sciences)

Duration of Studies:             Three Years (6 Semesters)

1. Mission

Improving the health and wellbeing of the Cameroonian population through providing a supportive learning environment where students will acquire a comprehensive skill set (academic and practical), that will enable them develop a critical and reflective approach to research in the Biomedical Sciences and Medicine.

2. Objectives of the B.Med.Sc. Degree.

• Production of biomedical graduates with high academic knowledge, advanced practical skills and attitudes necessary for effective healthcare delivery.
• Provision of sound theoretical and practical training using modern health care technologies, aimed at empowering graduates in knowledge and modern techniques applicable in biomedical research and development.
• To provide a strong platform for successful graduates to undertake studies in Medicine or embark on postgraduate studies in the various biomedical sciences.

3. Admission Requirements

• Minimum of six Ordinary Level passes including the English Language, French, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics in one sitting
• Minimum of three Advanced Level passes which must include, Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Mathematics at one sitting, in addition to the ‘O’ Level passes.
• Candidates with passes in the Probatoire and Baccalauréat in the C and D series are eligible to apply.
• Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree (at least Second class honours) from a recognized University in the Biological and Natural sciences may apply.

4. Employability and Progression Opportunities

The knowledge and skills obtained by biomedical graduates from CATUC will provide them with a leading and competitive edge of opportunities to Public and Private Sector-employment, in government and non-governmental organizations, locally, nationally and internationally, in health care institutions, Research Institutes, and Academia. Furthermore, our graduates will be fully equipped academically to proceed to Postgraduate studies, as well as embark in studies leading to the award of degrees in Medicine, after sitting and passing the National Comprehensive Examination, in which case, the candidate is admitted into the 4^th Year of the Medical training programme.

5. Conditions for the award of the B.Med.Sc. Degree.

• Degree requirements

Candidates admitted to the MD degree course must:

• Follow the approved course of study for a minimum of seven academic sessions;
• Comply with such other regulations and requirements as may be prescribed.

All candidates are normally required to attend a minimum of 90% of lectures for each prescribed course and 100% of Practicals to be eligible for examination in that course.

5.2 Examination arrangements

All end of course examinations shall take place at the end of the semester. In addition to written examinations, course examinations may involve orals and/or practicals.

5.3 Continuous assessment

Continuous assessment during the semester forms part of the end-of-course grading. Its overall contribution shall not exceed 30%.

5.4 Comprehensive Examination

There shall be two comprehensive examinations to be written before the end of programme.

The first Comprehensive Examination shall be written at the end of the second year. Candidates will be examined in Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Candidates must pass in all four subjects to proceed to the third year, with only one chance of a resit. Candidates who fail to validate their courses in the resit exams shall be advised to repeat the year. There shall be no carry-over of courses sat in the comprehensive exam.

The second Comprehensive Examination shall be written at the end of the third year. Candidates will be examined in Clinical/Morbid Anatomy, Chemical Pathology(Clinical Biochemistry)& Immunology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Virology and Mycology. In addition, candidates shall be examined for an oral defense of a thesis of a project carried out under supervision, in any of the biomedical sciences, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the B.Med.Sc degree. Candidates must pass all subjects to qualify for the award of the B.Med.Sc degree and to be eligible to sit for the National Comprehensive exam for entry into the 4^th year MD programme.

5.5 Format of Comprehensive Examinations

All comprehensive exams shall conform to the following format:

1. Multiple Choice Questions. MCQ Paper 1.*MCQs shall be in the T/F, Stem-item format
2. Short Answer Questions. SAQ Paper 2.

• Long Answer Questions. LAQ Paper 3.

4. Practical Examination Paper 4. ** Practical exams shall take either the           OSPE or Stipple chase formats
5. Viva Voce/Thesis defense. Paper 5

All comprehensive exams must have in attendance at least one fully participating external examiner per course.

Minimum Pass Mark

The minimum pass mark in all courses shall be 50%.

6. Degree Format

The B.Med.Sc. degree shall be classified according to the existing CATUC and UB classification system of all undergraduate degrees. However a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all courses is required for graduation. The degree obtained shall be classified based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) attained at the end of the course.

Our supportive environment includes mentors for freshmen, student peer support and personal academic guidance. Our staff is friendly and approachable, helping you get the best out of your studies and readily available outside of class.

Philosophy and Scope

The prime Philosophy of the MD Degree programme of CATUC, is to prepare the graduates for a career in all spheres of medicine, in a modern, competitive and holistic setting, to meet National and Global challenges. The student is therefore given strict guidance in course theory, practical, tutorial and in practical/clinical demonstration sessions, so as to fulfil the minimum requirements in academic, research, general and future specialist patient care as well as general administration and health policy formulation. The programme provides students with a broad medical and scientific framework that will lay the professional foundation for the practice of medicine in Cameroon, Africa and the World, and at the same time staying highly competitive in the global stage. Medical graduates from CATUC should be able to practice on their own or through gainful employment in any part of Cameroon, rural or urban, or undertake postgraduate training in National or international institutions of medical training. They should be conversant with standard clinical methods for assessment of patients and should be able to analyze all available data to arrive at informed decisions that will constitute the basis for an appropriate therapeutic plan of action for the patient. The programme will ensure production of excellent doctors who have a passion for learning and who satisfy the recommended WHO profile of the ideal physician.

They would be expected to fulfil at least five essential functions:

Care-giver: Assess and improve the quality of care by responding to the patient’s total health needs with integrated preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, and by considering the patient as an integral part of a family and a community;

Decision-maker: Make optimal use of new technologies, bearing in mind ethical and financial considerations and the ultimate benefit of the consumer;

Communicator: Promote healthy lifestyles by skillfully communicating with individuals and groups and empowering them for their own health protection;

Community leader: Reconcile individual and community health requirements, striking a balance between patients’ expectations and those of society at large, both short term and long term;

Manager:Work efficiently in multi-professional and multi-disciplinary teams, both within the health sector and across the health sector and other socio-economic sectors influencing health.

Objectives of the MD Degree

On completion of the course, the graduates will have advanced practical experience and would have developed cross functional skills, attained knowledge, and attitudes necessary in today’s work environment, with focus on the following areas.

Basic medical sciences

Provide high level of scientific knowledge and understanding of body systems and disease processes;

Develop an informed and critical appreciation  of recent scientific approaches for actions from hypotheses, which lead to self-directed learning as well as prognosis, diagnosis, and therapy with respect to medical conditions in both sexes;

Process information on normal and abnormal functions in molecular, somatic, biological, mental and social structure and function in deriving diagnosis;

Effective utilization of information technology, to enhance the management of health information.

Clinical Sciences

Capable of efficiently managing medical emergencies including first aid and performing relevant clinical procedures;

Competent in assessing the health status of individuals and groups through observation and data collection from sources including the medical history, clinical examinations, laboratory investigations, and significant others within the dynamics of patients’ relationships;

Fully participate in medical problem solving processes in order to derive a clinical diagnosis as appropriate;

Prepare and/or implement a plan of patient management and care including appropriate referral.

Community health and family medicine

Have proper respect for the rights of individuals and groups in a multicultural society and capable of handling issues with tact and sensitivity;

Capable of maintaining a good rapport with patients and understanding their perspectives.

Explore avenues of collaboration with individuals and communities in identifying and promoting aspects of health gain;

Use a wide range of case studies, epidemiological data, and cultural determinants of health in appraising the level of wellness, illness and health in a society;

Apply the principles of epidemiology and public health and an awareness of the social impact of illness to the practice of medicine in the community.

Communication skills

The curriculum content encompasses oral and written communication, which will prepare the student to become an effective communicator.

Effectively communicate with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team;

Prepare relevant, clear and concise records, reports, letters of referral and other patient related documents.

Professional competence

Knowledge of the healthcare system and ethical/legal issues, socio-economic conditions that impact on the provision of efficient and effective healthcare;

Develop an informed and critical appraisal of published scientific literature;

Develop comprehensive knowledge of social, behavioral, biological and clinical sciences with an understanding of  how to apply these. This can be achieved by participation in continuing medical education and research.

Practice medicine within the ambit of professional medical ethics and the law;

Maintain quality assurance initiatives;

Function as a member of the healthcare team.

Specific objectives

Integrated basic medical sciences

To acquire a scientific approach to decisions for diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis on health conditions;

To apply relevant knowledge from the biomedical and behavioural sciences to the care of individuals, families, and groups in the community and hospital settings;

To utilize informatics in the management of medical information as well as office practice;

To differentiate normal and abnormal structure and function in biomedical, somatic and mental operations of the human body systems, male and female and throughout the life cycle;

To recognize the progression in the disorder of human function because of biology of disease.

Communications

To prepare clear and concise records, reports, letters of referral and other patient-related documents;

To communicate effectively with patients’ families, and other members of the health care team;

To conduct concise and efficient patient education especially in areas of child health and chronic diseases;

To enhance interpersonal skills especially the doctor-patient rapport through effective communication;

To engage in referral and consultation with other members of the healthcare team, to the benefit of the patient.

Family and communication

To empower individuals, families and communities to develop self-reliance regarding their own health care;

To plan, and/or engage in health promotion activities aimed at promoting health and wellbeing in individuals and community groups;

To collaborate with individuals and communities in identifying health priorities and plan programmes aimed at promoting health;

To apply the principles of public health and epidemiology with an awareness of the social impact of illness on the practice of medicine in the community;

To demonstrate sensitivity and respect for the rights of  individuals and groups;

To appraise critically the folk traditions and alternative therapies related to the health that exists within a community.

Clinical methods and procedures

Experienced in the management of medical emergencies, especially as a first responder;

To fully engage in effective medical problem solving and clinical diagnosis;

To properly assess the health status of individuals and groups through observation, and data collection by way of medical history, clinical examination and laboratory findings;

To perform simple clinical procedures;

To prepare to implement a management plan including appropriate referral;

To involve the patient and family in the plan for care and utilize cultural determinants of health in assessing the health and wellness status of communities;

To prescribe therapeutic methods on the basis of appropriate investigative procedures;

To recognize the role of nutrition in maintaining wellness, prescribing diet therapies where they are relevant;

Professional competence

To participate in health care research;

To practice medicine within the ambit of professional medical ethics and the law;

To keep abreast of social, medical, and technological advances through participation in continuing medical education;

To critically appraise the published scientific literature;

To be accountable for professional and personal actions in the care of patients;

To participate willingly in the training of other healthcare workers;

To evaluate the results of treatment procedures and follow up with appropriate feedback;

To function harmoniously and constructively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team within the health sector and other sectors in society;

To participate in planning, organizing, directing and evaluating health care;

To engage in quality assurance initiatives;

To prescribe healthcare with a consciousness of the socio-economic conditions among individuals and communities.

Faculty of Medicine Curriculum

The curriculum of the Faculty of Medicine provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and aims at the education and practical training of Medical graduates and other health personnel for the promotion of good health, as well as the eradication of disease. It is also designed to promote the integration of modern practical scientific methodologies in medical practice, as well as develop adequate, relevant and useful capacity in biomedical research that addresses national aspirations and planning objectives. The programme lays particular emphasis on the inter-disciplinary relationship and their eventual synthesis into a unified code, for the solution of medical/health problems, without taking from the uniqueness of each discipline. As a Catholic University, we give serious consideration to Catholic ethical practice and professional deontology of the future medical graduate to ensure the passing out of products with timber and calibre, as well as strong moral fibre and impeccable ethical integrity.

COMPLETION PROGRAMMES

The School offers completion programmes for holders of the HND, HPD, and SRN certificates.

Graduate Programmes in the school of Health Sciences (Bamenda campus)