This Diploma programme for the training of clinical officers at Egerton University has been recognized and executed by the government for the last 70 years.Our graduates have over the years worked as in-charges of district hospitals for a long time, until the early 70?s when doctors started taking over. The district focus policy, as a major strategy of rural development, has influenced the planning and formulation of health service programmes in the country where people are expected to participate in identifying their health needs as well as planning and implementing health care programmes.
Clinical officers have continued to play a vital role as clinicians and managers not only at the level of rural health facilities but also in the running of District, Provincial and National hospitals. They are among the first clinicians to come into contact with the patients and clients. With the expanding health care programmes and facilities there continues to be a need to increase the number of health workers to provide preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative health services and clinical officers are at the front line. This is so especially in the rural areas where about 80% of the population resides.
The clinical medicine and surgery programme at the Egerton University addresses this need. The programme aims at producing better trained clinical officers who should not only be effective in providing services but who should also be able to competitively access higher education.