Medical Officer, Joint Tuberculosis, HIV and viral Hepatitis

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

All Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right. All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying value of equity as described in the General Programme of Work. The 13th General Programme of Work defines the mission of WHO as one to promote health, to keep the world safe, and to protect the vulnerable. The GPW calls for heightened accountability, prioritizing impact and outcome at country level, and to improve the lives of three billion people, through universal health coverage, through addressing health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations.WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions\: (i) providing leadership on global health matters; (ii) shaping the health research agenda; (iii) setting norms and standards; (iv) articulating evidence-based policy options; (v) providing technical support to countries; and (vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 880 million people. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems, the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate and, more specifically, how these bear upon the way the health system stewardship function of health ministries is carried out.The aim of the Division of Health Emergencies and Communicable Diseases (DEC) in the WHO Regional Office for Europe is to\:--> improve health security across the WHO European Region by maintaining regional alert and response operations and assisting countries in building their capacity for surveillance systems, preparedness for, and response to all health emergencies, in line with the requirements of the International Health Regulations and specific country risks;--> promote WHO's leadership in health emergencies and communicable disease prevention and control, including through relevant regional initiatives and specific research projects;--> assist countries in the Region to design, establish and run effective health programmes that are able to tackle the burden of communicable diseases, particularly, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, especially M/XDR-TB, viral hepatitis, influenza, malaria, antimicrobial resistance and vaccine-preventable diseases through strengthened immunization programmes and to achieve/maintain regional elimination/eradication goals as for measles, rubella, malaria, and poliomyelitis;--> ensure, within EURO, the availability of state-of-the-art competency to provide high level technical support to Member States of the Region, in collaboration with Headquarters and in close partnership with relevant institutions of the Region.Within the DEC division and the Department of Communicable Diseases, the objectives of the Joint Tuberculosis, HIV and viral Hepatitis (JTH) Programme are to\:• provide state-of-the-art and context-specific technical assistance to the Member States on TB M/XDR-TB, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis prevention, control and care; • provide evidence-based control policies, guidelines and standards; • optimize HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care outcomes; • pursue TB prevention and control through End TB Strategy implementation; • support Member States in adapting control strategies within the context of strengthening health systems and people-centred approaches;• assist Member States in monitoring and evaluation of national control programmes for HIV, TB, M/XDR-TB and viral hepatitis;• foster bilateral, multilateral and multisectoral collaboration and partnership;• develop stronger linkages between tuberculosis, M/XDR-TB, HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections control programmes and other health programmes and services particularly to drug dependence and harm reduction, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal, newborn and child health services; • address TB, HIV, viral hepatitis, TB/HIV co-infection, multidrug-resistant TB, with the focus on the needs of poor and vulnerable populations;• reduce vulnerability and address structural barriers to accessing services; • leverage broader health outcome and contribute to health system strengthening based on primary health care and the engagement of all care providers;• empower people with TB, HIV, viral hepatitis, civil society organizations and communities through partnership; enhance advocacy, communication and social mobilization for improved control programmes; and enable and promote research.