Public Health Officer

Public Health Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Since July 2016, Uganda is witnessing a massive influx of refugees from South Sudan (around 2,000 arrivals per day) through various formal and informal entry points along the border with south Sudan. Refugees are hosted in several settlements in the West Nile area of Uganda. Uganda is also hosting large refugee and asylum seeker populations from DRC, Burundi, Somalia, Rwanda, etc. As of February 2017, the population of all settlements was estimated by OPM at more than 1mio persons in 10 major settlements and an urban refugee population in Kampala.

In the West Nile two UNHCR sub-offices (Arua and Adjumani) coordinate the provision of international protection and assistance to lifesaving and life-sustaining services, including health care. Access to primary health care services is provided through partners (nationals/international NGOs) who have established a network of health facilities in settlements and work closely with government health authorities and health institutions.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer, the Public Health Officer supports UNHCR efforts during this emergency and ensures that standards for international health and nutrition are met to minimise avoidable mortality and morbidity among populations of concern. The Public Health Officer will play a key role in the coordination of health and HIV. S/he will coordinate a network of field-level focal points based in the field offices provides technical support to UNHCR field offices, partners and various units in the area of public health within UNHCR Operations in Uganda, primarily but not limited to Arua and Adjumani sub-offices¿ related-areas of operations.

S/he will work in close collaboration and technical support from the senior regional public health officer based in Nairobi.

S/he supports programme planning, monitoring and evaluation; promotes capacity-building of focal points from implementing partners and those from UNHCR field offices, collect and share nutrition-related information with a network of partners including the sister UN agencies, Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the area of operation.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Public health, reproductive health, HIV services provided to refugees in the area of operation are based on Ministry of Health, UNHCR and/or internationally recognised and most up-to-date standards and policies.

Responsibility
- Monitor and evaluate public health programmes in the operation zone against agreed standards to ensure that programmes are evidence-based and implemented in a comprehensive and cost-effective manner.
- Support capacity building initiatives so that refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR, UNHCR and its partners acquire the needed knowledge, skills, and sense of responsibility and ownership of programmes.
- Ensure that national and/or internationally accepted and relevant standards and policies are applied and adapted in close coordination with the Ugandan Ministry of health and relevant UN agencies and partners in order to guide the provision of essential public health services (preventative and curative, including, Reproductive Health and HIV services and mental health and psychosocial support services).
- Establish and/or adapt UNHCR internal guidelines and procedures to streamline inputs and improve efficiency of programme activities through integrated public health response also taking into account crucial services such as nutrition and food security, water and sanitation, site planning and shelter.
- Identify gaps and overlaps in programming, address unmet needs, and orient existing activities to address priority public health issues.
- Promote inter-sectoral coordination outside and within UNHCR in all matters related to public health programmes in the operation zone.
- Undertake needs and resources assessments with Governments and partners in order to prioritise needs and activities in provision of services to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Undertake all aspects of health and nutrition programme monitoring and evaluation with emphasis on checking levels of implementation and impact vis-à-vis resource inputs to measure cost-effectiveness and re-orient the programmes as appropriate.
- Support field health focal points and coordinators to develop training plan, organise and act as resource persons in workshops and training both in-service (formal) and on the job (coaching).
- Share with partners on the ground relevant guidelines and information materials.
- Promote information sharing on all aspects related to health, reproductive health and HIV.
- Ensure regular updates and share information within UNHCR as well as with relevant government partners and offices.

Authority
- Make recommendations on public health issues impacting on the health status of the Persons of Concern.
- Represent UNHCR in relevant regional meetings and technical conferences in the area of public health.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Clinical degree in Health Care (e.g. medical qualification) with a Masters-level qualification in Public Health, Nutrition or related field.
- At least 6 years of relevant experience in progressively responsible functions at national or international levels.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Experience of working with the Ministry of Health.
- Experience in public health assessments, health data management and survey design and analysis.
- Practical working experience in refugee settings.