The number of people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising. This course explores the main NCDs including cardio-vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mental health disorders and cancer. It will cover the geographical variation in disease and assess solutions to reduce chronic diseases. The course also explores how to communicate and minister to people living with NCDs.
Students will need background training in epidemiology and demography. The course will cover the biological basis of disease, how food and nutrition affects NCDs, the role of individuals, population aging and dilemas and paradoxes affecting global strategies.
How do you/ would you cope living with a chronic illness? How may this affect ones relationship with God? The course will equip students with the scientifc knowledge regarding NCDs and associated risk factors and how to communicate with people to enable them to cope with these chronic conditions and improve health.
Our primary purpose in life is to glorify God. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31); this will be explored in relation to lifestyle choices that affect health and NCD risk and how missional students can communicate this to the communities in which they are working.
Chronic diseases may not only impact ones physical health but can often lead to spiritual struggles. The course will help students to relate to patients with NCDs.
The course will help students to minister to patients who have been affected by NCDs contextualising how the bible portrays ill health and suffering.
The course will explore the epidemiology of NCDs investigating cultural influences on lifestyle choices, disease incidence, prevalence and mortality.
The course will help to build students knowledge of NCDs and associated risk factors exploring how NCDs affect individuals. They will examine how to minister in their communities to improve health and how to help people cope with living with a chronic disease.
Students will be tasked with designing an intervention program, demonstrated to improve prognosis of a NCD, using a biblically based framework.
