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Master of Medicine in Child Health and Paediatrics

The Master of Medicine in Child Health and Paediatrics is a postgraduate medical programme that trains medical doctors to become specialist paediatricians with a focus on child health. The programme combines advanced medical theory with intensive clinical training in paediatric and child health care.

Core areas include neonatology, general paediatrics, paediatric infectious diseases, paediatric emergency care, child development, community child health, paediatric sub-specialities, and research methods. Students engage with both theoretical study and extensive clinical practice in hospital settings.

The programme is offered by Moi University through its School of Medicine at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. This is a public university offering the programme over three academic years (120 units) through full-time clinical training.

Students develop competencies in neonatal care, general paediatrics, paediatric emergencies, infectious diseases, child development, chronic disease management, community child health, and research methods. The programme includes coursework, clinical rotations, examinations, and thesis.

Moi University offers the programme over 3 years with 120 units. The Kenya Paediatric Fellowship Program (KPFP) offers scholarships at Moi University for paediatric sub-speciality training. Entry requires an MBChB degree, registration with KMPDC, and at least one year of post-internship practice.

Graduates pursue careers as consultant paediatricians, neonatologists, paediatric sub-specialists, community paediatricians, and academic faculty in medical schools.

Skills Required

  • Neonatal Care and Management
  • General Paediatrics Practice
  • Paediatric Emergency Care
  • Paediatric Infectious Disease Management
  • Child Development and Neurodevelopmental Assessment
  • Paediatric Chronic Disease Management
  • Community Child Health and Public Health
  • Paediatric Resuscitation and Critical Care
  • Clinical Research Methods
  • Academic Writing and Thesis Research

Key Subjects

  • Neonatology
  • General Paediatrics
  • Paediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Paediatric Emergency Care
  • Child Development and Neurodevelopment
  • Community Child Health
  • Paediatric Sub-specialities
  • Clinical Research Methods
  • Paediatric Chronic Disease Management
  • Thesis Research

Certifications

  • KMPDC Specialist Registration in Paediatrics
  • KPA Professional Membership

Specializations

Neonatology

Focuses on newborn care, covering neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and neonatal disorders.

Paediatric Infectious Diseases

Examines infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.

Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care

Covers paediatric emergencies and critical care, covering paediatric resuscitation, trauma management, and managing critically ill children.

Community Child Health

Focuses on community child health, covering child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.

Paediatric Cardiology

Examines heart conditions in children, covering congenital heart disease, paediatric cardiac assessment, and managing cardiac conditions in children.

Paediatric Neurology

Covers neurological conditions in children, covering seizures, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and managing neurological conditions in children.

Duration
3 years
Public, up to
Ksh 358,667
Private, up to
Ksh 1,350,000
Job market
Very high

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode
Full-time
Attachment
0 months
Average class
10 students
Award
Masters

What you study

10 subjects
  • Neonatology
  • General Paediatrics
  • Paediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Paediatric Emergency Care
  • Child Development and Neurodevelopment
  • Community Child Health
  • Paediatric Sub-specialities
  • Clinical Research Methods
  • Paediatric Chronic Disease Management
  • Thesis Research

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Foundations of Child Health and Paediatrics

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Examines paediatric theory, growth and development, child health principles, and fundamental approaches to child health and paediatric practice.

  • Neonatology

    Year 1Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers newborn care, neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and managing neonatal disorders.

  • Paediatric Infectious Diseases

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.

  • Clinical Research Methods

    Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore

    Covers research design, data collection, analysis, and conducting clinical research, preparing trainees for their thesis.

  • General Paediatrics

    Year 2Semester 14 creditsCore

    Covers general paediatric conditions, common childhood illnesses, nutrition, growth disorders, and managing general paediatric problems.

  • Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care

    Year 2Semester 24 creditsCore

    Examines paediatric emergencies, covering resuscitation, trauma management, poisoning, and managing critically ill children.

  • Child Development and Neurodevelopment

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers child development, developmental assessment, neurodevelopmental disorders, and managing developmental and behavioural problems.

  • Community Child Health

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Covers community child health, child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.

  • Paediatric Sub-specialities

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Examines paediatric sub-specialities including cardiology, neurology, nephrology, haematology, and managing sub-speciality conditions.

  • Research Seminar

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Preparation of research proposal and thesis, including research design, literature review, methodology, and presentation.

  • Paediatric Chronic Disease Management

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Examines chronic disease management in children, covering diabetes, asthma, sickle cell disease, cancer, and managing chronic paediatric conditions.

  • Research Thesis

    Year 3Semester 210 creditsCore

    Original clinical research thesis on a child health or paediatrics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

  • Neonatology

    Focuses on newborn care, covering neonatal resuscitation, neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and neonatal disorders.

  • Paediatric Infectious Diseases

    Examines infectious diseases in children, covering immunisation, tropical diseases, HIV in children, and managing paediatric infections.

  • Paediatric Emergency and Critical Care

    Covers paediatric emergencies and critical care, covering paediatric resuscitation, trauma management, and managing critically ill children.

  • Community Child Health

    Focuses on community child health, covering child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health approaches to child health.

  • Paediatric Cardiology

    Examines heart conditions in children, covering congenital heart disease, paediatric cardiac assessment, and managing cardiac conditions in children.

  • Paediatric Neurology

    Covers neurological conditions in children, covering seizures, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and managing neurological conditions in children.

A day as a student

A typical day during the M.Med in Child Health and Paediatrics programme at Moi University combines ward rounds, outpatient clinics, emergency room sessions, tutorials, seminars, and independent study. The programme is primarily clinical, with trainees based at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Morning ward rounds involve reviewing neonatal patients, paediatric inpatients, and managing complex paediatric cases. Outpatient clinics provide experience with well-child clinics, paediatric consultations, immunisation, and managing outpatient paediatric conditions. Emergency room sessions provide experience with paediatric emergencies including respiratory distress, seizures, dehydration, and trauma. Neonatal care sessions involve managing newborns, premature infants, neonatal resuscitation, and neonatal intensive care. Tutorials cover paediatric theory, growth and development, infectious diseases, and clinical scenarios. Seminars and journal clubs provide opportunities for discussing current evidence, clinical guidelines, and research. On-call duties provide experience with paediatric emergencies and managing acutely ill children. Research methods sessions prepare trainees for their thesis, covering research design, data collection, and analysis. The programme includes rotations through sub-specialities including neonatology, cardiology, neurology, and infectious diseases. The programme culminates in a research thesis and clinical examinations for specialist certification.

The trade offs

In its favour

  • Very high demand for paediatricians in Kenya, with excellent career prospects and job security.
  • Programme is 3 years, enabling faster specialist qualification compared to longer M.Med programmes.
  • Training at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital provides exposure to diverse paediatric conditions in western Kenya.
  • KPFP scholarships are available for paediatric sub-speciality training at Moi University.

Against it

  • Only Moi University confirmed offering this exact programme name, limiting institutional choice.
  • Programme requires MBChB degree and KMPDC registration, limiting access to medical doctors only.
  • Clinical training involves long hours, on-call duties, and emotionally challenging situations with sick children.
  • Programme may overlap with the separate Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health, causing confusion.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses
Public187k to 359k
187k at Moi University359k at University of Nairobi
Private214k to 1.4M
214k at Aga Khan University1.4M at Private universities

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 359K (kenyaeducationguide). Moi ~187K. AKU 214K (businessradar). 1.35M unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. KMPDC may provide training support for medical professionals. The Kenya Paediatric Fellowship Program (KPFP) offers scholarships at Moi University for paediatric sub-speciality training. Some hospitals and counties may sponsor doctors for specialist training.

Funding options

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

  • KMPDC Training Support

  • KPFP Scholarships

Scholarships

3 recorded

  • HELB Postgraduate Loan

    LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.

  • KMPDC Training Support

    ScholarshipKsh 300,000Kenyan

    Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council supports specialist training for medical professionals in Kenya.

  • KPFP Scholarships

    GrantKsh 375,100Kenyan

    Kenya Paediatric Fellowship Program offers scholarships for paediatric sub-speciality training at Moi University for qualified paediatricians.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry
Applicants must hold an MBChB degree, be registered with KMPDC, and have at least one year of post-internship practice. Admission interviews are conducted by the Department Postgraduate Committee. Contact Moi University for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Clinical Assessment

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Continuous assessment through clinical performance, case presentations, ward rounds, clinical skills evaluation, and clinical logbook during rotations.

  • Written Examinations

    Examination30% of the mark

    Written examinations covering paediatric theory, neonatology, infectious diseases, and clinical scenarios.

  • Clinical and OSCE Examinations

    Practical40% of the mark

    Practical clinical examinations including OSCEs, clinical case assessments, and demonstrating paediatric clinical skills.

  • Research Thesis

    Research100% of the mark

    Original clinical research thesis on a child health or paediatrics topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and clinical knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). Moi University (public) offers M.Med in Child Health and Paediatrics. The programme meets CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in paediatrics.

Accredited by

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    Programme accredited by CUE and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). Moi University (public) offers M.Med in Child Health and Paediatrics. The programme meets CUE and KMPDC standards for postgraduate medical training. Graduates are eligible for KMPDC specialist registration in paediatrics.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Consultant Paediatrician

    Very high demandKsh 400,000 to Ksh 1,500,000

    Provides paediatric services in hospitals, overseeing child health care, managing paediatric conditions, and providing specialist consultation.

  • Neonatologist

    High demandKsh 450,000 to Ksh 1,700,000

    Specialises in newborn care, overseeing neonatal intensive care, premature infant management, and managing neonatal disorders.

  • Paediatric Sub-specialist

    Moderate demandKsh 500,000 to Ksh 1,800,000

    Specialises in a paediatric sub-speciality such as cardiology, neurology, or infectious diseases, managing sub-speciality conditions in children.

  • Community Paediatrician

    Moderate demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,200,000

    Works in community child health, overseeing child health programmes, school health, child protection, and public health initiatives.

  • Paediatrics Lecturer

    High demandKsh 350,000 to Ksh 1,000,000

    Teaches paediatrics at medical school level, overseeing instruction, clinical training, research, and academic supervision.

  • Paediatric Service Director

    Moderate demandKsh 550,000 to Ksh 1,800,000

    Directs paediatric services in hospitals, overseeing service delivery, quality assurance, and paediatric department operations.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates pursue careers as consultant paediatricians, neonatologists, paediatric sub-specialists, community paediatricians, and academic faculty in medical schools.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Paediatric Resuscitation Equipment

    EquipmentPrimary

    Paediatric resuscitation equipment for emergency care, covering airway management, ventilation, and managing paediatric emergencies.

  • Neonatal Incubator

    Equipment

    Neonatal incubator for neonatal care, covering thermoregulation, monitoring, and managing premature and newborn infants.

  • Paediatric Monitor

    Equipment

    Patient monitoring systems for paediatric care, covering vital signs monitoring, pulse oximetry, and multi-parameter monitoring for children.

  • SPSS

    Software

    Statistical analysis software for clinical research, data analysis, and analysing and interpreting research data for thesis.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

  • Child Health and Paediatrics is the same as general Paediatrics.

    While related, this programme at Moi University has a specific focus on child health within the context of western Kenya and community health, complementing the UoN programme.

  • There is no demand for paediatricians in Kenya.

    Kenya has a severe shortage of paediatricians with a ratio of 1:84,100 children, far below the WHO recommended ratio of 1:5,000, creating very high demand.

  • Moi University's programme is inferior to UoN's.

    Both programmes meet CUE and KMPDC standards, with Moi University offering quality training at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, a major regional referral facility.

  • Paediatrics is only for those who like children.

    While interest in children is important, the programme requires strong medical knowledge, clinical skills, and ability to manage complex medical conditions in children.

  • This programme is only available at UoN.

    Moi University offers its own M.Med in Child Health and Paediatrics, providing an alternative training pathway in western Kenya.

  • Paediatricians earn less than other specialists.

    Paediatricians earn competitive salaries, with strong demand in both public and private sectors, and opportunities for sub-specialisation and private practice.

Related courses

Further reading

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Fees and entry marks for Master of Medicine in Child Health and Paediatrics are restated every intake. Save it and the app keeps this version, so you can see what changed when it does.

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