Health, Public Health & Safety
Nutrition & Community Health
Community nutrition promotion, growth monitoring and food-based approaches.
Syllabus 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 | Nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Maternal, infant and young child nutrition |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Growth monitoring and screening |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Micronutrients, food security and diet diversity |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Community nutrition education and referral |
Module breakdown
- 1
Nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle
- Step-by-step methods and templates for nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle, and how to avoid them
- Applying nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying nutrition fundamentals and the life cycle to a local scenario.
- 2
Maternal, infant and young child nutrition
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for maternal, infant and young child nutrition in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for maternal, infant and young child nutrition
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in maternal, infant and young child nutrition, and how to avoid them
- Applying maternal, infant and young child nutrition in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to maternal, infant and young child nutrition.
- 3
Growth monitoring and screening
Weeks 5–6Practise growth monitoring and screening on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in growth monitoring and screening, and how to avoid them
- Applying growth monitoring and screening in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your growth monitoring and screening work
Assessed work: Group simulation using growth monitoring and screening under time pressure.
- 4
Micronutrients, food security and diet diversity
Weeks 7–8Turn micronutrients, food security and diet diversity into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying micronutrients, food security and diet diversity in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your micronutrients, food security and diet diversity work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind micronutrients, food security and diet diversity
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use micronutrients, food security and diet diversity in your role.
- 5
Community nutrition education and referral
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own community nutrition education and referral work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your community nutrition education and referral work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind community nutrition education and referral
- Step-by-step methods and templates for community nutrition education and referral
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering community nutrition education and referral.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • Health workers, facility staff and community health volunteers.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
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.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Community screening exercise with counselling practice.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and 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.
Certification
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.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Run growth monitoring and screening
- Deliver community nutrition education
- Refer malnutrition cases appropriately
Practical component
Community screening exercise with counselling practice.
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.
Ready to start Nutrition & Community Health?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.