Zonal Surveillance Officer

Vacancy Announcement (Zonal Surveillance Officer)

Purpose of the Position\:
The HOA Coordination Office has notified the isolation of circulating VDPVs (type 2 and 3) in sewage samples collected between October 2017 and April 2018 in Mogadishu, Somalia and Nairobi, Kenya. The sewage in Nairobi was from Kamukunji site 2 where its catchments are predominantly Somali communities in East Leigh .Genetic sequencing results of the isolates in the two countries have also shown that the viruses are interrelated and have been circulating undetected during the last four years.
These viruses are not yet detected in AFP case or healthy contacts which raise further uncertainties about the source.  The risk assessment and grading was made by the GPEI’s Emergency and Outbreak Management Group (EOMG) and categorized as Grade 3 Outbreak. 
A rapid but comprehensive assessment for Ethiopia revealed that the country is at higher risk of undetected circulation of polio virus due to suboptimal surveillance and low levels of population immunity in Somali Region and Borena Zone of Oromia. Moreover, HOA TAG at its 17th meeting has raised its concern for the ever-increasing risk Ethiopia and other HOA countries are facing. Considering all the virological, contextual factors and risk of further spread within and across borders, TAG reached at conclusion that the current situation is rather a Horn of Africa-wide cVDPV2 outbreak and called for aggressive, well-coordinated response in surveillance and immunization in at least shared borders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya. It was also emphasized that this response cannot be fully implemented with the available country capacity. The need for additional technical support possibly through deployment of surge teams was, thus, suggested for high quality response. Moreover, the progressively declining surveillance indicators and the persistently low routine immunization performances in Somali Region during 2017 and 2018 have prompted  the urgent scale up of  local level additional technical supports by WHO and other partners in the Region.

Under the day to day guidance and supervision of the WHO Regional Coordinator, the Regional Surveillance Coordinator, and  the direct supervision of the MCH/N EPI Team Coordinator and overall supervision of  the WHO Representative in Ethiopia, the Surveillance Officer (SO) will be responsible for providing technical support to the RHB in the assigned zone(s) in the implementation of AFP and environmental surveillance, other vaccine preventable diseases, immunization and other health emergency response interventions. This position is field based and the SO is expected to work very closely with and support the Zonal Health Desk (ZHD).
•    Provide technical support to the ZHD in planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring of AFP and environmental and all other disease surveillance and response interventions, and immunization activities
•    Assist in training and building the capacity of zonal, woreda, facility and community based  disease surveillance and response focal persons
•    Catalyze and support the rapid and effective implementation of proven strategies to reduce emergence and circulation of polio virus and other public health events
•    Undertake any other related responsibilities as assigned by supervisors
As part of polio surge teams, the incumbent will\:
•    Update crossing points and establish locally functioning cross-border mechanisms
•    Keep database of health facilities and other potentially active sites for AFP,  jointly make active site prioritization, woreda risk assessment for priority diseases (polio, measles) , develop and implement risk mitigation activities
•    Make priority-based and well-documented (using ODK platform) regular active case search and integrated supportive supervision visits to focal sites including IDPs and refugee camps
•    Verify, conduct detailed investigations (using ODK platforms) and submit timely reports of AFP and cases of other priority diseases to the regional and subnational data and program managers within recommended timeframe.
•    Support collection, packaging and transportation of samples from cases, contacts and targeted children in the communities.
•    Support and strengthen the existing PHEM/HMIS and community-based surveillance system through active participation, technical support and active collaboration with the PHEM surveillance and HMIS focal points at facility, woreda , zonal and regional levels
•    Ensuring quality data management through supporting proper case investigations, correct and complete recording and reporting and data analyses for actions at health facility, woreda and zonal levels
•    Ensure daily, weekly and monthly reports including surveillance, SIA, RI and other response activity reports are prepared and transmitted to the next higher level.
•    Support supervision, on-the-job training and monitoring of surveillance and response activities ensuring adherence to guidelines, standard case definitions and tools used; anticipate needs and weaknesses within the reporting system, and take initiative to find solutions or report to RHB/WHO at regional level to request additional support.
•    Support logistics and ensure appropriate surveillance supplies and equipment are available at every level (case definitions, case investigation forms, stool cups/specimen bottles, vaccine carriers, etc.).
•     Strengthen collaboration between partners and government counterparts, and districts in the neighboring countries. 
•    Provide technical support at all levels of the government structure and with other partners to achieve high quality routine and supplemental immunization activities.
•    Assist with timely utilization and retirement of  funds at every level
•    Carry out any other assignments as assigned by supervisors

Required Qualification
Education
Essential\: BSc in nursing or public health and postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology, field epidemiology or public health
Desirable\: Masters in Public Health

Verification of Education
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 these will be reviewed individually.

Experience
Essential\: A minimum of two years of work experience in the field of clinical medicine or nursing, disease surveillance and immunization
Desirable\: Experience working with WHO, other UN agencies and other international organization is an advantage with two years of relevant experience
Languages\:
Excellent knowledge of both written and spoken English and & fluency in the working language of the country.

Skills
•    Excellent computer and data analysis skills with ability to use MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
•    Good understanding of the Ethiopia health system, policies, planning and management issues
•    Good interpersonal, cross cultural, oral and written communication skills with fluency in oral and written English and local language.
•    Excellent report writing skills
•    Patient, with good negotiating and diplomatic skills and able to work in a multi-cultural setting and culturally sensitive communities
•    Organized and flexible with working hours and ready to work for long hours when required
•    Energetic and able to work and live in high security risk and hardship conditions when on the field
Competencies
•    Fostering integration and teamwork  
•    Ensuring the effective use of resources
•    Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
•    Communicating in a credible and effective way

Additional Information
•    Type of Contract-Special Service Agreement.
•    Duration - initially for six months with possibility of extension.
•    Duty Station – Ethiopia in Somali region various zones.
•    No of vacant posts\: Roaster
•    Annual remuneration\: NOB step 1 as per UN salary scale which will be USD 1,458.66/month payable in ETB at the prevailing UN exchange rate.
•    Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. Please provide your cellphone number and valid e-mail address.
•    Applicants within government employment and/or with outstanding obligations will not be considered unless a letter of release is produced.
•    Long-listed candidates may be contacted to sit a written or presentation prior to final short-listing. This does not preclude a written test or presentation prior to final interview.
•    Interviews will take place using a competency-based approach.
•    Note that this is a national position, and only applications from nationals of ETHIOPIA will be accepted. Please REFRAIN from applying if you are not ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL.