Health, Public Health & Safety
Epidemic & Pandemic-Prone Disease Preparedness and Response
Surveillance, investigation and response for outbreak-prone diseases.
View prospectus
Programme rationale
Surveillance, investigation and response for outbreak-prone diseases. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
Programme at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Epidemiology of epidemic-prone diseases |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Surveillance, alerts and early warning |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Outbreak investigation steps |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Case management, IPC and risk communication |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Response coordination and recovery |
Target audience & entry requirements
Target audience
- • Health workers, facility teams, safety focal persons and community health volunteers.
- • Programme staff whose work includes prevention, preparedness, surveillance, safety or community engagement.
- • Learners seeking structured professional development in public-health and safety practice.
Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the programme, learners should be able to:
- Investigate an outbreak systematically
- Support surveillance and alert systems
- Communicate risk to communities
Detailed modules
Each module below follows this programme’s published syllabus and contributes to the final practical work.
- 1
Epidemiology of epidemic-prone diseases
Weeks 1–2Study epidemiology of epidemic-prone diseases in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within epidemiology of epidemic-prone diseases
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying epidemiology of epidemic-prone diseases to a realistic setting.
- 2
Surveillance, alerts and early warning
Weeks 3–4Study surveillance, alerts and early warning in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within surveillance, alerts and early warning
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying surveillance, alerts and early warning to a realistic setting.
- 3
Outbreak investigation steps
Weeks 5–6Study outbreak investigation steps in the context of health, Public Health & Safety, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within outbreak investigation steps
- Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying outbreak investigation steps to a realistic setting.
- 4
Case management, IPC and risk communication
Weeks 7–8Apply case management, IPC and risk communication through systematic risk identification, proportionate controls, safe documentation and escalation.
What you cover
- Hazards, exposure and professional responsibilities within case management, IPC and risk communication
- Prevention, control and response measures
- Inspection, recording, referral and improvement actions
Assessed work: Complete a scenario-based risk, control or referral exercise for case management, IPC and risk communication.
- 5
Response coordination and recovery
Weeks 9–12Develop practical capability in response coordination and recovery, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
What you cover
- Roles, responsibilities and decision points in response coordination and recovery
- Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for response coordination and recovery.
Practical project / portfolio
Outbreak investigation case study with line listing and report.
Teaching & learning approach
- Tutor-led explanation and demonstration focused on the published module topics.
- Guided practice using cases, scenarios, templates or production tasks relevant to the programme.
- Individual and group feedback that helps learners improve work before final submission.
- Flexible online, face-to-face or blended participation, with evening and weekend scheduling where available.
Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • Practical component: Outbreak investigation case study with line listing and report.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Learner support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Career & professional pathways
This programme supports professional development; it does not guarantee employment, promotion or entry to a regulated occupation.
- Strengthen performance in community health, facility support, safety, preparedness or programme-assistant roles.
- Use the practical project as evidence of applied professional development in your current workplace.
- Progress to related SLIHSD public-health, safety or emergency-management study where available.
Fees & enrolment
- • Indicative programme fee: SLE 2,500.
- • One-off indicative registration fee: SLE 100.
- • Final fees, start date, delivery arrangement and any instalment option are confirmed in writing before commitment.
- • Submitting an application does not require payment and does not guarantee admission.
Regulatory & recognition notice
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Completion records an SLIHSD professional short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Ready to start Epidemic & Pandemic-Prone Disease Preparedness and Response?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.