The Nutrition Centre for Training and Research
(NCTR)

The NCTR is a newly established centre (January, 2002) at Ahfad University for Women. The Centre is developed in response to the growing need of the university and the country at large, to address health and nutrition issues in the community. It is worth mentioning that this centre is the only one of its kind in the country.

NCTR is affiliated to the School of Health Sciences of the Ahfad University for Women. The School of Health Sciences is pioneer in graduating young women with specializations in one of three major areas; Food and Nutrition; Community Health Management, and Food Science and Technology.

The Centre awards MSc and PhD degrees in human nutrition and a Higher Diploma in Teaching Family Sciences.

Objectives

The main objectives of the NCTR can be summarized in the following:

To work as a focal point for all health and nutrition cctivities in the country
To provide training for those working in this field, at different levels (PhD and M.Sc. programs, short, medium and long-term training programs)
Promote research
Provide health and nutrition information services through its Information Unit
Provision of technical and professional assistance to governmental and local NGOs, in addition to the Educational institutes

NCTR-Network

Despite the fact that the centre is newly established, the NCTR attracted the attention and being welcomed by most of the governmental bodies and NGOs in the country who are working in this field. Many link programs are established with, Federal and State Ministries of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Higher Education, the Food Research Centre, the Sudanese Metrology Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Program (WFP), Help Age International, Feinstein Famine Centre at Tufts University in Boston, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Institute, and others.

Activities

The NCTR is now leading many research projects. Some of these are:

Food consumption patterns in the country, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (Food Security Department);
Health and nutrition promotion through the Family Attachment Program, in collaboration with Khartoum State Ministry of Health (Primary Health Care Unit);
Documentation of “The Traditional Foods of the Sudan”;
Preparation of the "Nutrition Country Profile" — an assignment for the FAO.
Preparation of series of “Nutrition Education” tapes for the Sudan National T.V and the Sudan Radio Broad Cast; and
Consultancy by the Help Age International in preparing and conducting a nutrition strategy for older pastoral and their community in the Red Sea State.

NCTR has associates (specialists) from within and outside the university in the different areas of nutrition and related issues.

Graduate Studies

The School of Health Sciences offers a program for the Master's degree in Human Nutrition. It is the first of its kind in Sudan and the whole region. The program is concerned with the details of nutritional problems in Sudan and developing countries in general. However, the program qualifies candidates who work in the fields of Agriculture, Health Education, and Nutrition and Nutritional policy, Agricultural Policy and Planning and Community Development Organizations. The program is based on both courses and research. The Program is covered in three semesters:

First Semester

FMDC 6013 Malnutrition in Developing Countries
CN 6022      Mother and Child Nutrition
FNFH 6033   Nutrition and Food Hygiene
NAM 6043    Human Nutrition and Abnormal Metabolism
FMFF 6052   Economics and Management of Family Food
FAHN 6066   Advanced Human Nutrition

Second Semester

FFNP 6123   Food Nutrition Policy and Planning
FNHE 6132   Food Nutrition and Health Education Methods
FFNR 6142   Methods in Food and Nutrition Research
FDEC 6153   Dietetics Experience in Community
FTFF 6163   Traditional and Fermented Foods in Sudan
FNHI 6113   Nutrition Care in Health Institution

Third Semester

This semester is dedicated for the dissertation work. The work should be related to the solution of any human nutritional problem in Sudan or any other developing country.

Faculty

Osama Awad Salih, MSc, & PhD in Agricultural Biochemistry, Associate professor of Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences, NCTR Director, Ex. Dean, School of Family Sciences.

A.H. Khattab, Professor of Nutrition, NCTR Food and Nutrition Consultant.

Kamal Ahmed Mohamed, Professor of Clinical and Applied Nutrition. NCTR Consultant.

Abdel Moneim Osman ElKhalifa, Assistant professor of Food Science and Technology. MSc & PhD Food Science and Technology. NCTR Research Coordinator.