Polio, Surveillance Officer

Purpose of the Post:

The African Region has made tremendous progress towards eradication of poliomyelitis by interrupting wild poliovirus type 1 transmission in 2014 and there is no country still endemic for poliomyelitis in the Region since September 2015. Additionally, wild poliovirus type 2 was declared to have been eradicated globally in September 2015; and the last wild poliovirus type 3 was detected in November 2012. With this progress, it is important that surveillance be strengthened to be confident that all transmissions have been interrupted in the Region. Furthermore, with the possible threat of importation of wild polioviruses from countries with continued transmission outside the African Region, it is critical that Vaccine Preventable Disease surveillance be sensitive enough to detect any circulation, in a timely manner, for mounting an outbreak response to quickly stop transmission of Vaccine Preventable Diseases outbreaks. High quality AFP surveillance has to be intensified up to certification of eradication of poliomyelitis and during the post-eradication era. In the African Region, AFP surveillance is conducted in the context of an integrated disease surveillance system. Therefore, the incumbent will provide technical support to strengthen surveillance at the WHO Country Office in South Sudan with overall aim of attaining the targets of Vaccine Preventable Diseases control, elimination and eradication.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

The general objective of the Polio Eradication Programme is to support national authorities to eradicate poliomyelitis, both: wild or vaccine derived. Specifically, the objectives are timely detection and interruption of poliovirus transmission, strengthening immunization systems and preparation for oral polio vaccine (OPV) withdrawal, laboratory containment of polioviruses, certification of poliomyelitis eradication, legacy planning and transitioning of polio assets for other public health interventions. The surveillance unit within the Polio Eradication Programme will mostly focus on ensuring that surveillance is of certification standard and that any poliovirus circulation (wild or vaccine derived) is detected, investigated and responded to, in a timely manner. The surveillance unit will also work with other units to ensure integrated disease surveillance, and support implementation of technological innovations to provide robust evidence of conducted surveillance activities.

Organizational Context (Describe the work environment, the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making, and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization):

Under the overall supervision of the WHO representative in South Sudan and guidance of the PEP Coordinator, the Polio Surveillance Officer will provide technical support and guidance to the WHO Country Office in South Sudan and strengthen surveillance activities in South Sudan.

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected)

Specific tasks include:

• Provide strategic leadership in the development of the country national disease surveillance system able redesign and support implementation of evidence-based policies development of disease surveillance operational plans, and strategies for disease control especially in control of VPDs in the country with emphasis on sustaining the Polio Eradication strategic activities.
• Support the adaptation and implementation of WHO disease surveillance technical products and services in the context of VPDs control, elimination or eradication, aligning integrated VPDs surveillance with the Integrated Surveillance and Response within the country;
• Lead diverse evaluation and capacity strengthening for national disease surveillance system in the country aimed at generating strategic information needed for use in tailoring and targeting disease control interventions according to sub-national contexts within the country; for timely detection and investigation aiming for rapid implementation of outbreak responses activities to boost population immunity; special emphasis on the AFP surveillance system required.
• Contribute to the use of data for evidence-based programme reviews and planning in the country including digital systems for analytics and use of disease surveillance data for action especially stratification of disease burden, tailoring of interventions and targeting of priority communities and population groups; specifically use available data from AFP and environmental surveillance to guide operational action, support preparation of documentation of evidence towards polio free certification.
• Facilitate national and sub national support in disease surveillance, coordinating provision of quality technical support; working collaboratively with other team members including those responsible for supporting laboratory management systems and diagnostic tests for targeted VPDs;
• Support implementation of national with Africa regional networks on VPDs surveillance and action aimed at enhanced partnership coordination and resources leveraging in supporting with targeted VPDs and capacity building activities to strengthen Vaccine preventable disease surveillance and response in line with the framework of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, special emphasis on sustaining Polio eradication;
• Contribute to regular monitoring of the trends of targeted VPDs including monitoring impact of vaccination on VPDs morbidity and mortality; regular documentation and dissemination of statuses of vaccine preventable disease surveillance strategic initiatives and progress towards set targets in the country.;
  • Provide support for various technical committees for their execution of agreed tasks (e.g. Polio committees)
  • Provide feedback on weekly surveillance performance report from States to close gaps, improve quality of reports and determine localized (sub-national) areas for focus of surveillance activities
• Specifically support in adaptation of the country AFP and environmental surveillance standard operating procedures (SOP) and updating of guidelines aligned with regional guidelines including support to the expansion of environmental surveillance for polioviruses to complement acute flaccid paralysis surveillance in South Sudan
• To perform other related responsibilities as assigned by the WHO Representative, IST VPD focal point as required.

Competencies (Describe the core, management or leadership competencies required - See WHO competency model – list in order of priority, commencing with the most important ones – identify a minimum of three and a maximum of five competencies):

1. Communication

2. Producing results

3. Teamwork

4. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Functional Skills and Knowledge (Describe skills and knowledge specific to the post):

> Analytical and presentational skills

> Ability to work effectively with colleagues at different levels of the organization

>The candidate must possess good communication skills

Educational qualifications:

Essential:Medical doctor with post graduate degree in public health from a recognized university with formal training in principles of epidemiology.

Desirable: Post graduate training in Epidemiology plus training in in polio eradication and immunization.

Experience

Essential: At least seven years’ experience in public health services delivery with demonstrable experience in the control of vaccine preventable diseases with field experience in polio eradication, vaccine preventable disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, immunization, epidemiology and disease control surveillance activities.

Desirable: International experience with WHO in Africa and developing countries would be an asset.

Languages:

Essential: Excellent knowledge of the English.

Desirable: Knowledge of French or other UN language.

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

Computer software program proficiency: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Health Mapper, EPI Info, SAS, SPSS and other data base software. Proven skills in organizing and providing training programs for public health workers; and staff management.

N.B: Women are strongly encouraged to apply

Additional Information (For HR use only):

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women are strongly incouraged.