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Public Health support Officer (disease control)

Freetown

  • Organization: WHO - World Health Organization
  • Location: Freetown
  • Grade: Junior level - P-2, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Administrative support
    • Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
  • Closing Date: 2024-05-02

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Public Health Support Officer position is under the Country Office Senior Management Office(SMO with the main objective of providing advice on the development and effective management of sustainable, integrated, multi-sectoral, national strategies, policies, interventions, and health systems' capacity building in the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases. The Public Health Support Officer ( Disease control will ensure the availability of technical expertise on integrated programs and initiatives of disease prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care. As an SMO team member, The incumbent will serve as a focal point and advise the WR and CND cluster on building and strengthening partnerships and networks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration to address integrated, prevention and control of CND.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform all or part of the following, and other related responsibilities as required by the needs of the office.Support the effective management and coordination of expertise to provide technical advice on the development and effective management of sustainable, integrated, multi-sectoral, national strategies, policies,interventions, and health systems' capacity building in the control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases.Support the development of action plans for the inclusion of disease prevention and control interventions across the life course and continuum of care.Coordinate the adoption of norms, standards,guidelines and tools to support the implementation of disease control projects.Support the management of the operational aspects of related operational research, surveillance, epidemiology, and health surveys.Facilitate the implementation of projects for the control of the respective diseases. includingthe procurement of safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines and technologies.Technically support:the documenting and dissemination of best practices and partners' experiences;the analysis and evaluation of a diverse range of data and information related to communicable and noncommunicable diseases and outbreaks;the identification of disease sources and provision of recommendations and reports on the appropriate response toidentified risks, as well as the implementation of preventative and control measures;the monitoring of the national burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases or factors, especially through health information systems and health research activities;the coordination of the development or enhancement of information systems oncommunicable and noncommunicable diseases and the monitoring of progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).Serve as technical communication focal point with the public on communicable diseasesin the country; and establish new community outreach activities.Support advocacy and the building and strengthening of partnerships andnetworks to enhance multi-sectoral collaboration, and the mobilization of resources to address integrated, prevention and control of communicable and noncommunicable diseases

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: A university degree (bachelor's) in a relevantfield (such as public health, epidemiology, statistics or medicine).
Desirable: Training or specialization in communicablediseases and noncommunicable diseases

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years of professional experience,at the national level or international level, in Communicable and/ornon-communicable disease control programmes
Desirable: Professional experience providing technical orprogramme services to national counterparts, Ministries of Health, and other partners on communicable disease related issues.Relevant work experience, withWHO and/or UN agencies, health cluster partners, non-governmental orhumanitarian organizations

Skills

Transmissions,methods of diagnosis, development, and treatment of communicable andnoncommunicable diseases.The prevention and control of communicableand/or noncommunicable diseases.District hospital care, universal healthcoverage, in-service and pre-service training, essential noncommunicabledisease drugs, primary health care deliverysystems.International best practice in the relateddisease control areas, in particular WHO's policies, practices, guidelines, and procedures.Knowledge to support the planning, coordination,and implementation of health programme interventions.Knowledge of health and safety regulations.Analytical and organizational skills.Skills in engaging in collaborativemulti-sectoral partnerships.Excellent oral and written communication, including for communicationwith stakeholders and partners

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Ensuring the effective use of resources
Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 50,377 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 2372 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
  • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
  • A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.
  • In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
  • According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
  • Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
  • Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
  • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
  • Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int
  • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
  • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
  • Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.
  • WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.
  • The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.
  • Please note that WHO's contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.
  • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
  • For WHO General Service staff who do not meet the minimum educational qualifications, please see e-Manual III.4.1, para 220.
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