Technical Expert – HIV Comorbidities

Overview of the programme

WHO India Country Office collaborates with the Government of India and relevant stakeholders within the framework of the collaborative Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), to actively support the development and implementation of national health policies, strategies and plans aiming at promoting access to and utilization of affordable and quality health services and improving financial protection against health-related risks.

WHO Country Office for India is supporting the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to strengthen the existing health systems to cater to the growing needs of mental health and substance abuse.

WHO’s mandate revolves around six (6) leadership priorities specifying (i) advancing universal health coverage (ii) health related sustainable development goals (iii) addressing the challenge of non-communicable diseases and mental health, violence and injuries and disabilities (iv) implementing the provisions of the International Health Regulations (2005) (v) increasing access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable medical products (vi) addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.

The South – East Asia Region (SEAR) of WHO is made up of 11 countries, with over 1.9 billion people, with India’s population of 1.4 billion. All the Member States of WHO/SEAR (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste), 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 values of equity, solidarity and participation.

Mission of the WHO Country Office for India

The mission of WHO India is to improve quality of life of the 1.4 billion people in India by supporting the government in eliminating vaccine preventable and other communicable diseases, reducing maternal and neonatal mortalities, promoting healthy lifestyles, addressing determinants of health, preparing and responding to health emergencies and strengthening health systems for universal health coverage.

Description of Duties

The purpose of this position is to provide strategic technical support to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in the areas of HIV Comorbidities including Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, Mental Health, Palliative Care, Health Care of the Elderly PLHIV, etc.

Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative to India, Deputy Head of WHO Country Office for India and Team Leader (Communicable Diseases) and direct supervision of National Professional Officer (HIV/Hepatitis/STI Care and Treatment) of WHO Country Office and Head/Deputy Director General of Care, Support and Treatment (CST) division of National AIDS Control Organization. S/he will have the following responsibilities in her/his assigned area of work:

• To provide technical assistance on developing frameworks for collaborative activities across NACP, NTEP, NPCDCS, NMHP and other national programs.
• Support implementation of collaborative frameworks in close coordination with different national programme components, service packages of Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres and close coordination with other stakeholders.
• To provide support in advocacy for evidence-based policy framing and preparing guidelines for quality assured screening, diagnosis and treatment of co-morbidities in PLHIV in coordination with concerned national health programmes.
• To provide technical assistance at centre, state and district level for implementation of the framework.
• To support training of the key program officials, partners and other stake holders on prevention and management of co-morbidities in PLHIV under NACP.
• To provide the technical support in strengthening and decentralizing HIV-co-morbidities collaborative activities.
• To work in collaboration with national and state level technical officers of other thematic areas of the program on cross cutting issues.
• To identify various programme linkages across different national programmes, to develop NACP programme on HIV co-morbidities.
• Build capacities of concerned staff for effective programme management and analysis through extensive field visits.
• Participate in the related technical resource group meetings of NACO.
• Working with the internal and external stakeholders at national, state and district levels to ensure that the program is implemented as planned by SACS/DACS.
• Strengthen the existing MIS system and reporting formats, indicators and suggest modifications/changes if any, for review and adaptation especially with respect to SOCH related to HIV-comorbidities.
• To undertake strengthening the supervision and monitoring through supervisory visits.
• To provide a comprehensive report on the programme status on a quarterly basis in the prescribed format to the concerned divisions at NACO, in consultation with component officers and in close coordination with Surveillance and M&E divisions of NACO.
• Data confidentiality, data protection and data security may be ensured while sharing NACP data with other stakeholders.
• Any other additional action points which may support HIV-and other comorbidities-related collaborative activities; and
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor(s).

Qualification requirements

Educations:

Essential: Bachelor’s in Medical Sciences (MBBS degree) (MCI/State Medical Council registration essential)

Desirable: Postgraduate degree in Preventive and Social Medicine/ Community Medicine/ Public Health/ Internal Medicine/ Infectious Diseases.

WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions. The list can be accessed through this link: http://www.whed.net/

Experience:

Essential: At least two (2) years of working experience in HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis or STIs or noncommunicable diseases, in a government department/public sector undertaking, in a multinational corporation, reputed private organizations or NGOs.

Desirable: Past experience working in HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis or STIs or noncommunicable diseases programs or health projects under government or bilateral/ multilateral agencies in India. Experience of working with State AIDS Control Society or National AIDS Control Organization or other communicable disease program, having good skills in using different data analysis packages like SPSS or STATA will be an added advantage. Project management experience, including coordination of activities and reporting. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Competencies

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Functional Skills and Knowledge:

• The incumbent should identify with the core values of the World Health Organization. Good knowledge of modern office procedures and practices.
• Ability to analyses data; Ability to speak and write clearly. Proficiency in computer applications and ability to draft reports.
• The incumbent should contribute to ensuring high professional, ethical, and institutional standards of the Organization.
• Meet professional conduct expectations, and basic universal norms of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and lawful behavior. This includes compliance with the above, including ability to:

• Perform within existing organizational structures and governance.
• Adhere to WHO's processes; demonstrate gender and cultural sensitivity.
• Demonstrate respectful and constructive interpersonal communication.
• Perform as a team player.
• Demonstrate due diligence.

Remuneration

Monthly remuneration is INR 206,377 taxable as per Indian laws and the appointment will be through Special Services Agreement (SSA) for a period of one year. S/he could be posted anywhere in India as per the needs.

Additional Information

• This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interviews will be used as a form of screening
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• 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 a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
• 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.
• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• 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.
• Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.