Medical Officer - Surveillance at the World Health Organization (WHO)

World Health Organization (WHO) is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Medical Officer - Surveillance

Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/17/TASR22
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Grade: P4
Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Duration of contract: 1 year
Organization unit: AF_NGA Nigeria (AF_NGA) / AF_NG1 WHO Representative's Office (AF_NG1) ORD/PEP/WCO
 
Objectives of the Programme

• The objective of the EPI programme is to support national authorities reduce morbidity, disability and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) through improving access and utilization of immunization services;
• Accelerating efforts to achieve polio eradication, measles control, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, yellow fever control;
• Promote innovations including introduction of new and under-utilized vaccines;
• Improve vaccine safety and security and systematize access to immunization services integrated with other child survival interventions.

Description of Duties

• Under the guidance of WHO Representative and the direct supervision of EPI Team Leader, the Medical Officer Surveillance will provide technical support to the WHO Country Office on implementation and monitoring of surveillance for Polio and other vaccine preventable diseases.
• The officer represents WHO and is expected to provide high level technical support to the country in collaboration with stakeholders for disease surveillance.

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

• Coordinate WHO support for surveillance activities to ensure achievement and maintenance of certification standards for the AFP surveillance system and performance indicators for other VPDs.
• Undertake regular performance reviews including weekly analysis of AFP surveillance data in order to identify and overcome technical and performance bottle necks, and build the epidemiological capacity of field staff through technical assistance.
• Provide technical support to the different committees for the polio program (National Certification Committee, National Task Force for Laboratory Containment, National Polio Expert Committee).
• Provide technical support to national laboratories for VPDs and closely monitor laboratory and staff performance indicators.
• Regularly update surveillance guidelines, training modules and other materials and assist in development of monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Facilitate training and other capacity building activities for national and field staff and for the reporting network.
• Sustain the maintenance of the environmental surveillance system including regular evaluation of existing sites and plan for expansion as required.
• Undertake frequent travel to different states of the country to supervise surveillance activities and oversee the process of data collection and timely analysis for its use.
• Submit monthly reports on the activities undertaken to the team leader EPI.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Team Leader and WR.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Degree in Medicine, complemented by specialization or post-graduate qualification in Public Health
• Desirable: Formal training in principles of epidemiology and/or health promotion

Verification of Educational qualifications:

• "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 these will be reviewed individually".

Skills:

• Sound technical knowledge on epidemiology and surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases; prevention and control measures; preparedness and response.
• Ability to establish harmonious working relations with national counterparts and international colleagues.

Other Skills (e.g. IT):

• Proven ability to use standard office software packages;
• Proficiency in MS Office applications, data analysis and technical presentations.

Experience:

• Essential: At least 7 years of relevant experience in the development and implementation of vaccine preventable disease surveillance systems at national/sub-national level with particular expertise in polio.
• Desirable: UN experience in managing disease surveillance.

WHO competencies:

• Fostering integration and team work;
• Communicating in a credible and effective way;
• Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond;
• Ensures the effective use of resources;
• Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English.

Remuneration
Annual salary: (Net of tax)

• USD 69,032 at single rate
• USD 74,130 with primary dependants    

Post Adjustment:

• 29 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

Application Closing Date
4th February, 2017.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.