Kareen Cox, Career Writer

Throughout this recent global recession, a few industries, one of them being the health-care industry, have managed to escape the major negative effects.

Pundits in the USA have forecast that the health-care industry will generate three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.

The reason for this is quite simple: people will always need to access health care, regardless of a decrease in income or even loss of employment.

Also, the nature of the world we live in means that we are susceptible to a number of diseases which we will often need the assistance of health-care professionals to combat. The current outbreak of the H1N1 virus is a recent example of this.

Non-communicable and lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are also on the rise.

High demand

What all of this means is that short courses and degrees in health-care-related areas are in high demand. In recent years, we have seen an explosion in the number of institutions offering a Master of Science degree in public health. A quick search on Google will reveal a large number of schools globally that offer this course.

Here in Jamaica, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, the University of Technology and the Northern Caribbean University, also offer the programme.

The UWI, St Augustine campus, also offers a master's degree in public health.

The master's in public health programmes in Jamaica are generally open to the following persons:

Graduates with at least a first degree from an accredited institution;

Medical officers who are registered medical practitioners;

Health professionals with the relevant work experience.

In some cases, applicants may also be required to attend an interview.

Persons with a master's in public health can access jobs in government, educational institutions, private-sector businesses and research facilities and with international organisations such as the World Health Organisation.

If you are interested in pursuing a master's in public health and a career in public health overall, you will need more than an interest in a secure career.

You must, as well, be passionate and interested in working towards improving people's health and well-being.

You should also be prepared to work with the general public, since much of the work done within the public health industry involves interacting with the general public.

As the world continues to struggle with the effects of rapidly spreading diseases such as HIV/AIDS, more and more persons will be needed in the health-care system to help manage this and other diseases' impact on the general population.

A master's degree in public health will provide you with the necessary background and framework to effectively monitor, improve and protect the public's health.

Kareen Cox is the resources coordinator in the career development services department, HEART Trust/NTA.

A graduate degree in public health will allow public health professionals and other interested persons to:

gain knowledge of the factors which influence national, regional and global legislative and social health-related polices;

develop and implement solutions to public health problems;

develop and enhance communication skills by working with diverse populations;

be positioned for a leadership role in health promotion and disease prevention;

plan and manage public health programmes.

kareen.cox@gmail.com