Technical Officer (Tuberculosis)

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Division of Country Health Programmes (CHP) assists country efforts to reduce the burden of non-communicable and communicable diseases and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health, and promotes policies and actions for health through stewardship of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network. It focuses on health promotion measures; prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, and risks related to tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and the harmful use of alcohol; communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases; elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases and advocacy for increased use of vaccines; containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance; addressing existing and emerging environmental health risks, and supporting violence and injury prevention. A determination to ensure universal access to people-centred quality health services across the continuum of care is matched by enriching the evidence base for policy design and interventions using social, cultural and behavioural approaches, to drive implementation of innovation at national, regional and local levels.

The WHO country office works with the National Authorities to achieve the highest standard of health as a fundamental human right, based on equity and on SDGs principle of leaving no one behind. WHO actions are engrained in the WHO 13th General Programme of Work with its 3 prong objectives of promoting healthier populations, keeping the world safe through addressing health emergencies, and protecting the vulnerable through Universal Health Coverage. WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions: (i) providing Global Health leadership; (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 WHO Country Office is an integral part of the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Its main role is to facilitate and coordinate all WHO activities at country level and to implement the European Programme of Work 2020-2025 -“United Action for Better Health in Europe” which sets out a vision of how the WHO Regional Office for Europe can better support countries in meeting citizens' expectations about health. WHO at country level delivers this through practical, actionable and country focused solutions to health challenges, keeping in perspective that achieving health and well-being is a whole-of-society endeavour; This is done through facilitating the implementation of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement with the country and its corresponding workplan. The WHO Country Office maintains good working relations and ensures information exchange between the country and WHO, policy and strategic guidance on Health issues to all national and international partners in the country, provision of direct technical expertise when needed and aims at more community engagement and participation, and to promote health equity.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

To provide technical assistance in tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, Centre for Public Health and the National Tuberculosis Programme and to provide training, mentoring and support to Ukrainian healthcare facilities providing TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, with the overall aim to end TB in Ukraine.

Key duties:

1.Provide technical assistance and support to the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, Ukrainian Centre for Public Health, the National Tuberculosis Programme and other national bodies on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of tuberculosis, particularly drug resistant tuberculosis.

2. Provide training, mentoring and technical support to Ukrainian health care facilities providing tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment services.

3. Provide technical guidance, mentoring, training and support to ensure quality TB services and systematic collection and analysis of TB data to improve TB diagnosis and treatment at the regional and health facility level;

4. Provide technical support and mentoring in the systematic collection and analysis of standardised TB (testing and treatment) data to identify challenges, support programmatic decision making and improve service quality;

5. Serve as a resource for clinical/technical questions, problem solving, and consultation and assure effective communication between WHO and the healthcare officials and workers at different levels of the national HIV care and treatment system;

6. Provide policy guidance and expert technical support for optimization of TB treatment, including implementation of oral TB treatment regimens and modified short-term treatment regimens for MDR/XDR-TB patients; improved ambulatory models of TB care and implementation of video observed treatment for TB;

7. Provide policy guidance and expert technical support for transition to WHO recommended TB drugs and regimens and for improvement of treatment efficiency of drug resistant TB;

8. Convene TB technical consultations (at the national level) and technical workshops (at the regional and site levels) including on implementation of oral TB treatment regimens and modified short-term treatment regimens for MDR/XDR-TB patients; improved ambulatory models of TB care and implementation of video observed treatment for TB;

9. Provide frameworks for monitoring effectiveness of health care facilities' TB service delivery and support improved effectiveness of TB and drug resistant TB treatment;

10. Provide and support national and international expert training for TB service providers, regional and national TB programme managers, strategic information and other specialists of UPHC and other responsible national partners;

11. Provide expert support for TB epidemiological modelling and studies including on TB patient costs;

12. Support improving TB laboratories through appropriate inclusion of TB in overall laboratory strategy and networks and laboratory network optimization in the context of health care reform and health systems strengthening

13. Provide technical assistance in line with the approved work plan of the tuberculosis area of work(within the communicable disease workplan), BCAs, the European Programme of Work (2020-2025), Global Fund and other collaborative agreements;

14. Promote WHO policies, practices and integrated service delivery approaches to promote equitable access to tuberculosis diagnosis, care and treatment;

15. Provide technical support to guide and strengthen civil society in their responses to tuberculosis treatment and control and to vulnerability and structural barriers to accessing communicable disease services;

16. Contribute to the work of the WHO country office related to ensuring access to quality communicable disease prevention and treatment to all in need particularly in the conflict affected areas and including internally displaced persons, marginalized people and those in the penitentiary system;17.

Ensure timely reporting of TB and related activities within country workplans through Senio rAdviser to WR Head of Country Office and Regional Office;

18. Prepare reports to donors on TB programme/project implementation;

19. Organize and support national and international TB consultancies and country missions;

20. Contribute to regular TB monitoring and assessment performance through evaluation and reporting;

21. Perform other duties as designated by the supervisor within the technical scope of the position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree (Bachelor's level) in medicine, public health or related area of study.
Desirable: Master's degree in any of the above-mentioned areas. Post-graduate training in tuberculosis.

Experience

Essential: At least two years of work experience in tuberculosis treatment and prevention at the national level.
Desirable: Relevant work experience within WHO, United Nations or another international organization.

Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of current practices and associated technologies for treatment and prevention of tuberculosis

2.Demonstrated knowledge of the epidemiology and challenges of tuberculosis in Ukraine

3. Demonstrated knowledge of Ukrainian TB treatment and prevention services and challenges to service delivery

4. Proven skills in developing partnerships with and between Government officials, international and national agencies responsible for tuberculosis, civil society, community-based organizations and other networks in Ukraine

5. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to develop and implement TB treatment and prevention and related advocacy efforts andproducts.

6. Emotional intelligence - ability to identify and manage one's own emotions, as well as helping others to do the same.

WHO Competencies

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

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Expert knowledge of Russian. Expert knowledge of Ukrainian.

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 37,537 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• 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.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

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• 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 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.