Public Health Specialist

Details

Mission and objectives

L’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) est l’institution spécialisée des Nations Unies pour la santé dans le monde. Constituée de 194 États Membres, elle agit partout sur la planète pour promouvoir le meilleur état de santé possible pour tout être humain, quels que soient sa race, sa religion, son genre, ses opinions politiques et sa situation économique ou sociale. La mission de l’OMS est de promouvoir la santé, de préserver la sécurité mondiale et de servir les populations vulnérables. L’accès à des soins de santé adaptés et économiquement abordables est un droit fondamental de la personne humaine et la couverture sanitaire universelle est un principe cardinal de l’action de l’OMS. D’ici à 2023, l’OMS a pour objectif d’atteindre les cibles du triple milliard :1 milliard de personnes supplémentaires bénéficiant de la couverture sanitaire universelle ; 1 milliard de personnes supplémentaires mieux protégées face aux situations d’urgence sanitaire ; et 1 milliard de personnes supplémentaires bénéficiant d’un meilleur état de santé et d’un plus grand bien-être. La moitié de la population mondiale au moins n’a pas accès aux services de santé essentiels et près de 100 millions de personnes sombrent chaque année dans la pauvreté en raison de leurs dépenses de santé directes. L’OMS réunit des experts internationaux de premier plan afin de produire des supports de référence sur les questions de santé mondiale et de formuler des recommandations pour améliorer la santé de tous. Les pierres d’assise de l’OMS sont l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé, les États Membres et le Secrétariat.

Context

Founded in 1948, WHO is the United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies. And we promote healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes. WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) defines WHO’s strategy for the five-year period, 2019-2023. It focuses on triple billion targets to achieve measurable impacts on people’s health at the country level. The triple billion targets are to ensure by 2023: - One billion more people are benefiting from universal health coverage - One billion more people are better protected from health emergencies - One billion more people are enjoying better health and well-being Madagascar remains exposed to high risks of public health events the resurgence of epidemics and disasters linked to natural hazards (droughts and floods). The situation in Madagascar continues to deteriorate. Indeed, the confluence of high food insecurity has led to severe malnutrition and the recent devastation of the series of cyclones which have caused floods and the destruction of health facilities, thus depriving thousands of people of access to Health care. The Great South (regions of Androy, Anosy and Atsimo-Andrefana) has been experiencing drought for 40 years. Furthermore, intense rains in 2022 and 2023 caused flooding, landslides and destruction of infrastructure and loss of human life, particularly affecting the south east of the country, and other affected regions. Hence, the country has been affording a series of cyclones and tropical storms including Anna, Batsirai, Dumako, Emnati, Gombe, and this year Cheneso and Freddy who also caused enormous damage, especially the great impact on the health system. Based on this situation, the needs of support are increasing that it why is necessary to strengthen the implementation of activities in the field by ensuring the availability of health professional to maintain WHO visibility. The health system is fragile with limited access to basic health services and coordination through local support with the regions in crisis will contribute to strengthening actions to improve the health status of the population. The mission of the WHO Health Emergency's Programme is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

Task description

Under the general supervision of the WHO Representative Madagascar and the technical supervision of the Incident Manager of the Country Office, the incumbent(s) will be responsible for supporting the activities of response in the following areas: - WHO support for preparedness and response to cyclones and floods according to the results and objectives. - Institutional relations with the decentralized technical services of the Ministry of Public Health (DRS, SDSP etc) and the other ministerial departments, the decentralized territorial communities, the other partners and the actors concerned directly or indirectly by health - Integration of WHO interventions with the Health Sector Development Plan (PDSS), the regional cyclone and flood contingency plan and regional priorities in areas at risk of cyclones and floods. - Representation of WHO in the area of intervention and facilitation of the coordination of actors working in the field of health through existing platforms, in particular the Health Sector Group. - Communication/Visibility of the actions of the WHO and its technical and financial partners - Technical expertise in the preparation and health response to cyclones and floods: planning, implementation, management and monitoring of the various initiatives or interventions carried out in the impact areas of cyclones and floods. - Logistics support and monitoring of mobile clinic interventions - Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.