06/02/2024
HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICER NQF Level 3, SAQA ID No: 94597
What is Health Promotion Officer (HPO) about?
Health Promotion Officer is a Community Health Worker whose main focus is on primary healthcare, with health promotion as a vital aspect. The HPO plays a pre-emptive role in the assessment and identification of health needs as well as to intervene in primary healthcare activities.
Duties of Health Promotion Officer
Provide basic nursing and palliative care
Treat simple diseases, injuries, wounds
Make referrals for various health problems to appropriate levels of health services.
Promote TB Infection control
Take temperature, BP, Pulse and respiration
Check Sexual Transmitted Infections, teach and refer for treatment
Identify pregnant mothers, mothers who have given birth and their babies and refer for treatment
HIV and AIDS testing and counselling
Identify drug and substance abusers and refer them to rehabilitation centres
Teach people about dangers of drug and substance abuse
Teach people about cleanliness of in-house, environment and water
Teach about women and men’s and children’s health
What are the entry requirements?
Ancillary Health Care NQF Level 1 or
ABET Level 4 with FLC or
Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 (No specific subjects are required)
Duration of study
It can be done in twelve (12) months on full-time attendance (i.e. Mon to Fri) or eighteen (18) months on part-time attendance.
There are three (3) intakes per year: February, July and October.
Examinations
Learners will write national exams after completing the course. Exams are written in March and October/November every year.
Certification
Learners who have passed National Examination will be awarded Occupational Certificate: Health Promotion Officer by Quality Council for Trades & Occupations
What can one do after obtaining this qualification?
Find employment.
Major employer is Department of Health (Clinics, rehabilitation centres, testing and counselling centres) through its implementation of Primary Health Care Re-engineering under NHI.
Other employers include Schools, waste disposal plants, water purification plants, local municipalities, Mental Health Centres, Old age homes, mines, Health Research centers, Cancer foundation, heart foundation, diabetes foundation, social development, and NGOs/NPOs.
Enroll for higher level qualifications such as:
Further Education and Training Certificate: Community Health Work
Further Education and Training Certificate: Community Development: HIV/AIDS Support,
Higher Certificate in Social Auxiliary Work
Mid-level course is being developed to bridge to Degree in Health Promotion Officer