Title: National Professional Officer, AFP Surveillance (position 374531)
Grade: NO-B
Contract type: Temporary appointment
Duration of contract: For one year ((depending on availability of funds)
Date: 30 November 2015
Application Deadline: 21 December 2015
Duty Station: Hargeisa, Somalia
Organization unit: EMRO Eastern Mediterranian Regional Office (EM/RGO) / EM/POL Polio Eradication (EM/POL)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):
- Maintaining high quality Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance system
- Eradication of Poliomyelitis from Somalia through routine supplementary immunization activities (SIAs)
- To reduce morbidity and mortality from other Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) target diseases.
Purpose of the Post
To provide technical advice and coordinate all aspects related to surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) within the Polio Eradication Programme of Somalia
Description of duties
Organizational Context
As part of the WHO Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) team and under the direct supervision of the Polio Eradication Team Leader and the overall guidance of the WHO Representative, the incumbent will be responsible for providing technical advice and coordinating all aspects related to surveillance for Acute flaccid paralysis in collaboration with all partner agencies operational in Somalia (comprising of UN agencies, international and national governmental organizations, counterparts, and local authorities).He / She will also provide advice on the investigation and response to the wild polio/ Circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (cVDPV) outbreak in Somalia.
The incumbent will perform the following activities
- Coordinate national surveillance system for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Somalia, to ensure that AFP surveillance procedures recommended by WHO are followed and implemented in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Analyze and interpret Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) summaries and data received from districts, regions and zones and provide immediate feedback Identifying areas with surveillance gaps and developing specific improvement plans
- Organize and conduct regular surveillance meeting and issue weekly updates.
- Conduct regular field visits to review AFP surveillance activities and to participate in the meetings held by Zones for district polio officers.
- Update guidelines and training materials for AFP surveillance as necessary and use these documents to conduct training activities on AFP surveillance and polio eradication.
- Coordinate preparation and dissemination of the weekly update on polio eradication and AFP surveillance.
- Monitor organization of advocacy/orientation meetings for clinicians/health staff/traditional healers/community workers on AFP surveillance
- Participate in regular surveillance reviews.
- Liaise with NGOs and other partners to ensure their support and cooperation in AFP surveillance
- Coordinate with WHO/EPI to ensure building of AFP surveillance capacity and integrating other EPI diseases.
- Prepare regular program reports to reflect progress achieved and identify challenges and solutions
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Essential: University degree in medicine or equivalent professional training
Desirable: Master Degree in public health
WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an accredited institution.
Skills
Competencies
WHO global Competencies model at http://www.who.int/employment/WHO_competencies_EN.pdf?ua=1
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Producing results
- Communicating in a credible and effective way
- Moving forward in a changing environment
- Fostering integration and team work
Functional Skills and Knowledge
- Sound technical knowledge on national policies and strategies on communicable diseases surveillance and response, epidemiological capacity enhancement and epidemic/pandemic preparedness and response.
- Knowledge of issues related to communicable diseases control in either or both clinical and public health settings.
- Good analytical and problem solving skills.
- Knowledge of WHO mandate and goals
Other Skills (e.g. IT): Proficiency in MS Office
Experience
Essential: At least two years’ experience in Public health with emphasis on surveillance, EPI.
Desirable: Previous work experience with medical institutions, INGOs, partner agencies or ministry of health.
Languages
Languages: Excellent knowledge of English and a local language
Additional Information
- Please visit the following website to learn more about WHO’s operation
http://www.who.int
- Applicants are kindly requested to pay attention to the screening questions as they will be used to screen out unqualified candidates.
- Only applications received online via the e-recruitment system will be considered.
- This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons residing within that local commuting area.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for interviews and tests, if applicable. The written test might be used as an eliminatory tool.
- Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice (this could be the base for rosters).
- A written test/presentation and interviews will be used as a form of screening. The written test might be used as an eliminatory tool.
- This vacancy is published only in English.
- Candidates will be interviewed using a competency-based approach
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
US$ 26849.00 at single rate 407214
This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.
How to apply:
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO’s e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before Monday, 21 December 2015
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.