Surveillance Officer at the International Medical Corps (IMC) - Kano and Borno

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and Nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Surveillance Officer

Loactions: Kano and Maiduguri, Borno

Job Summary

• The position of Surveillance Officer has a state role and is responsible and accountable for the quality of poliovirus surveillance in the state to which he/she is assigned. he/she will work closely with the local implementing partners, surveillance working groups both at the states and also CGPP secretariat, The Surveillance Officer is expected to provide strategic and technical leadership to district teams.
• The incumbent to this post would be specifically accountable for: the management and oversight of all surveillance-related activities and associated databases, as well as other specialized surveillance systems; and, ensuring full implementation of the Surveillance-specific Work Plan
• Organizational context: Under the technical supervision of the Senior Program Officer and under the overall supervision of the Project Coordinator and in close collaboration with the state WHO and State Surveillance Officer.:

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate CGPP state/LGA activities in all aspects of surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in the community
• To plan and conduct regular/periodic field supervision visits to LGA of concern to assess and evaluate the implementation of surveillance activities, identify gaps and recommend corrective actions based on key performance indicators.
• To assure a line-list of AFP cases is maintained by each LGA and an updated list is sent to the State each week, and that a computerized line-list of all cases from each LGA is maintained in the state and provided to the national level weekly.
• To conduct monthly/quarterly meetings with LGACs, some of which may include the participation of State Surveillance Officers.
• Participate in meetings of the state surveillance stakeholders to review AFP cases.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of AFP surveillance training workshops within the state for Ministry of Health staff, NGOs and LGA level.
• Strengthen the capacities of the surveillance teams for the effective and sustained surveillance of epidemic prone diseases through training courses on field investigation, detection, data management, and rapid response to epidemics and health outbreaks.
• Coordinate and manage surveillance activities to support the State Epidemiologist and the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer Coordinator.
• Assist in maintaining regular contact with the partner organizations and/or bodies for AFP surveillance.
• Organize meetings with community informant and other relevant community stakeholders to improve awareness on AFP surveillance.
• Support training and supervision of VCMs and Community Informants and agents working under the polio project.
• Support the M&E Officers and Senior Program Officer to effectively collect, collate and report surveillance data as required.
• Collaborate with State Team Lead, State M&E Officers and State Social Mobilization officer to ensure documentation of all community surveillance activities.
• To collect, review and analyse the monthly reports of field technical staff and provide summaries to the LGACs and technical feedback to the report originators.
• Prepare and submit timely and quality activity reports, including field notes and success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects.
• The Surveillance officers will use his/her expertise to actively participate in strengthening the efforts to improve the vaccination coverage of target children through supplemental immunization campaigns conducted in the LGA specifically include: Technical input for planning, supervision, and monitoring of LGA Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) required for polio eradication, including National Immunization Days (NIDs), mopping-up campaigns and outbreak response vaccination.
• Perform any other related duties as requested by the supervisor(s).

Qualifications and Experience

• First degree or its equivalent in Field Epidemiology) or Degree in Statistics, Database Management or Public Health - Essential
• Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery or any other relevant discipline of study
• Master’s degree will be an added advantage.
• Strong technical knowledge in public health, epidemiology, infectious disease surveillance, disease outbreak investigation and data management, including analysis and interpretation of infectious disease surveillance data.
• At least 4 years’ related experience, at the state levels required, of which 2 years should be specific to surveillance of infectious diseases and other vaccine preventable diseases.
• Efficient use of computer software applications, including: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Epi Info or similar software.
• Understanding of local communities and cultures in the relevant states of operations and ability to communicate fluently in Hausa.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to travel and work in difficult settings, including remote rural areas of Nigeria.
• Well-organized, with ability to track multiple activities and deadlines.
• Experience in providing administrative support to work teams.
• Ability to work successfully in cross-cultural, team-based environment.

Application Closing Date
27th September, 2018

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should should be addressed to the "Human Resource Coordinator, International Medical Corps" via the email: imcnigeriavacancy@internationalmedicalcorps.org

Note

• The position is for Nigerian nationals only
• Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted.
• Candidates MUST state the position and location they are applying for as the subject of their email, application letter and curriculum vitae should be in a single Microsoft Word Document, otherwise applications will not be considered.