Reproductive Health Doctor at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Reproductive Health Doctor

Requisition ID: req14335
Location: Monguno, Borno
Sector: Health
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Fixed Term

Background

• The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the worst humanitarian crises globally and assists people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC is present in over 40 countries and the United States. IRC’s presence in Nigeria is dated back to 2012, when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state.
• In February 2014, the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected population. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja, and field offices in Adamawa State (Mubi and Yola), Borno state (Maiduguri, Monguno, Bama and Gwoza) and Yobe State (Damaturu).
• Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs in Primary Health Care PHC), Nutrition, Environmental Health (EH), Women Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Protection, Child protection, Education, Food security & livelihoods.
• With a background of poor Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) indices, made worse by the ongoing humanitarian crises and advent of COVID-19 pandemic; the RMNCH outcomes in Northeast Nigeria could face a downturn, without intensified intervention. Over the years, the IRC has provided comprehensive package of SRH services (including Family Planning (FP), Antenatal Care (ANC), Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC), Post-Natal Care (PNC), treatment and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Post Abortion Care (PAC) and Clinical Care for Sexual Assault Survivors (CCSAS).
• IRC seeks to continue these services with the objective to ensure women and girls’ safety needs during the Covid 19 pandemic are met. Thus, we are recruiting to fill the vacant position of RH Doctor.  

Job Overview

• The RH Doctor reports to the Reproductive Health Manager and is responsible for the quality of reproductive health services in the health facilities and communities of intervention.
• S/he will provide direct service delivery (50% of time), provide mentorship, and increase capacity of the clinical team (midwife and clinic support staff) and ensure clinical quality of IRC RH services (30% of time).
• S/he will spend the remaining 20% of the time supporting project management, procurement, supplies, and health facility administration.

Major Responsibilities
Service delivery and Quality of care management:  

• Provide consultations for antenatal and postnatal care. Identifying and managing pregnant women at risk while referring as appropriate.
• Supervise intra-partum care and assist the midwives in deliveries as needed.
• Manage common complications in pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum phases, and refer cases requiring comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care.
• Provide counselling on family planning and provide FP commodities according to the client’s informed choice.
• Provide counselling and clinical care for sexual assault survivors and refer for psycho-social care.
• Provide post-abortion care according to MoH/International protocol, including counselling for FP.
• Provide counselling and treatment of patients with STI, including partner treatment.
• Maintain infection prevention and control within and around the facility.
• Ensure all facilities adhere to instrument processing and sterilization protocols.
• Ensure all RH services are in line with national/adopted protocols and RH policies and guidelines are well understood by midwives and other support staff in the facilities.
• Conduct period facility readiness assessment and follow up on service point improvement action plan.

Staff supervision and development:

• Provide technical support and guidance for management of complications in pregnancy, assisted and complicated deliveries, and complications in the post-natal period.
• Provide on-the-job coaching (supportive supervision) to midwives and clinic support staff. Support RH Manager to define staff training needs and implement them according to project objectives.
• Conduct quarterly clinical skills’ assessment for midwives and follow up on areas that need improvement.
• Organize and facilitate formal and informal trainings for RH staff.
• Participate in and support midwives, community mobilizers and community volunteers in activities that aim to increase women’s RH awareness and service utilization.
• Monitor staff daily attendance to duty posts and ensure time sheets are correctly filled and submitted monthly.
• Responsible for management of leave days in a way that ensure staff are available to cover duties, also supervises the development of monthly work roster.
• Manage staff performance according to their job description, provide written feedback in a timely manner and conduct performance management evaluation.

Project management and reporting:

• Contribute to the RH work plan and midterm evaluations, ensure project activities are implemented according to the work plan and within the allocated budgets.
• Monitor the medical stock/non- medical consumables stock at the facility level and assists in timely requisition of new supplies from the warehouse.
• Works closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain to ensure procurements are initiated and delivered in timely manner.
• Responsible for validation of program data and timely submission to M&E on weekly basis (number/ gender/ age segregated).
• Work with M&E team to analyze data on a weekly/monthly basis, feeds information back to the program, and adapts strategies accordingly.
• Provide weekly/monthly activity reports to the supervisor.
• Supports the RH manager/M&E officer in monitoring and following up on specific RH indicators.

Coordination and representation:

• Focal person for intersectoral integration between Reproductive Health and Women Protection and Empowerment sector at comprehensive women centers/other supported facilities
• Ensures teamwork and professional relationship between the different sectors and government agencies.
• Works closely and coordinates with IRC supply chain, finance, and grant staff to ensure activities are conducted within the timeframe and compliance of the grants.
• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination, and information sharing activities with national NGOs, international organizations, MoH, donors and community stakeholders.
• Maintain effective relations with the Ministry of Health departments
• Represent IRC during site visits of external guests and IRC head quarter visitors.

Others:

• Consistently and proactively monitors and assesses the safety and security of the team; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

Key Working Relationships

• Position directly reports to the Reproductive Health Manager
• Position directly supervises the facility midwives.
• Indirect reporting: Snr/Reproductive Health Manager
• Other Internal and/or external contacts: Health Program Staff, Managers, Coordinator and ALL other IRC sectors
• External:  Other partners- NGO’s, MOH etc

Qualifications

• A medical doctor with valid practicing license

Work Experience:

• Clear interest in and work experience with clinical reproductive health activities
• 3years experience implementing Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) services.
• Verifiable basic surgical skill is an added advantage.
• Ability and flexibility to understand and work within the cultural and political environment.
• Similar experience in an INGO is an added advantage.

Others Desired Skills / Qualities:

• Quality oriented
• Self-motivated, resourceful, honest, highly responsible, committed, and punctual.
• Ability to independently organize work, prioritize tasks, respect and adheres to deadlines.
• Ability to work as part of a team and lead teams.
• Familiarity with local context
• Ability to maintain beneficiary confidentiality and respect at all times is essential.
• Professional skills to provide sensitive and appropriate medical counseling.
• Clear understanding of gender equality and gender issues for women and girls
• Ability to speak Hausa language and other local languages like Kanuri is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, good spoken and written English needed for concise reporting.
• Professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook – preferred

Working Environment:

•  Borno State is categorized as security phase 4 (Red). The RH doctor is thus expected to work closely with IRC safety and security team (SST) and comply with all security protocols/ guidelines.

Benefits

• Competitive Monthly salary.
• Health Insurance Coverage for staff and family.
• Annual earned leave days.
• Pension scheme

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

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

Note: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.