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| Message from the HOD |
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It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Polytechnic of Namibia. Our department was started in January 2008, and currently we offer two programs, namely, a four-year professional Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and a two-year National Higher Certificate in Emergency Medical Care. |
This website is designed to provide information to all prospective and/or interested students, academics and industrial partners on the staff members in the department, as well as the courses offered, entry requirements to enroll for the courses, projects/research activities, contact details, and any other changes taking place in our department. |
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| The department was initiated to address the shortages of adequately qualified health care practitioners in Namibia. The Biomedical Science program was started to initially re-enforce the Namibian healthcare system with adequate numbers of professionally qualified medical laboratory scientists, and thereafter, to maintain a constant supply of these vital professionals to the field of Biomedical Technology in the country or elsewhere, as required. Previously, students had to leave Namibia to obtain this qualification, but now, it has been brought to their doorsteps. |
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| Biomedical scientists work in a medical laboratory where they generate and provide data to assist in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They identify disease-causing bacteria and parasites; microscopically differentiate cells, microorganisms, and other abnormal elements. They operate complex electronic analytical instruments to detect abnormal and malignant cells, antibodies and other components. They determine the concentration of various biological and chemical elements, drug levels and evaluate the chemical, cellular and immune composition of blood, urine and other body fluids. |
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Emergency medical care, similar to so many healthcare practices, is also a field which was identified as in dire need of practitioners in Namibia. These practitioners play a vital role in providing pre-hospital life support to critically ill and/or injured patients. Our qualification enables the students, once they successfully complete the course, to essentially, as required, be the first responders to any medical or trauma emergency, in order to stabilize the patients and prepare them for transportation to the hospital, where appropriate treatment will be administered. |
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| The Emergency Medical Care Practitioner provides the first link in the critically ill or injured patient’s chain of survival. Emergency Medical Care is a demanding career as practitioners must be able to perform their duties in high-stress environments. Therefore they need to be both mentally and physically fit, be able to work under stress and be able to face day-to-day challenges that the job has to offer. |
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Finally, being a young department, there is more than ample room for growth, which can be in the form of improved quality of the courses, as well as our responsibility as a department, to engage into research activities, and contribute to our social responsibility by engaging in community projects for the improvement of the living standards of the Namibian population initially, spilling over into a positive global contribution. |
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