Paediatrician at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Medecins Sans Frontieres is a private, not-for-profit international humanitarian organization
dedicated to providing medical assistance to populations in distress, without discrimination and regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. MSF has been active in Katsina since February 2021 after carrying an exploratory mission that end up with an opening of the project.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Paediatrician

Location: Katsina
Employment Type: Contract
Working hours: 208 working hours per month
Opening Date: 13th April, 2025

Context

• Currently, MSF is running an ITFC (Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre) in Katsina in the Kofar Sauri PHCC and 4 ATFC (Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centre) including three in Jibia LGA (Magama, Daddara, Riko,) and one in Katsina City (Kofar Marusa).

Main Purpose

• Providing outpatient and / or inpatient paediatric care to patients / beneficiaries according to adapted and updated medical knowledge, MSF protocols, values and universal hygiene standards to improve the new-born and child / beneficiaries’ health conditions.

Job Description

• Applying medical knowledge and skills to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of children, ensuring integrated new-born and paediatric care through Emergency, OPD, and IPD services in New-borns and cases of malnutrition. Prescribing the necessary treatment, respecting MSF protocols. 
• Collaborating closely with the different department of the hospital (e.g. Maternity), Knowing and ensuring all updated MSF medical protocols and universal precautions are followed and implemented, reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control. 
• As an expert in paediatrics, proposing strategy (modification on current new-born and paediatric care management) and implementing them after validation of Operation and Paediatric Advisor. 
• Ensuring on-going new-born and paediatric training (formal and bedside) of the medical / paramedical multidisciplinary team in order to optimize the new-born and paediatric quality of care. Reviewing and discussing selected complicated cases or mistakes and giving technical input.
• Keeping patients and their families informed of the illness and the treatment to follow, checking that they have been understood. Ensuring professional autonomy and confidentiality are respected and a good attitude and proper bedside manner towards the patient and their care takers and the rest of the medical team.
• Following up the evolution of the hospitalized / IDP patients through daily visits, consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Monitoring the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material and addresses the list of the missing item for new-born and paediatric activities. Providing inputs about general organization of the different paediatric wards, including the admission, transfer and discharge criteria + referral procedure from Maternity and post-delivery wards
• Checking and controlling the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his / her responsibility and taking care the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assuring general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participating in the introduction / improvement of the collection and analysis of epidemiological new-born and paediatric data, checking its validity and informing the line manager or project coordinator about any problems or complications of the patient’s illness an medical errors. Collecting Clinical cases for further trainings and list a series of comments to improve the current MSF protocols
• Managing the team under his/her direct responsibility according to MSF HR policies and procedures, supervising their performance, organizing and scheduling shifts and rotations, directly participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.
• Designing and providing training to staff as required.
• Debriefing with coordination, headquarter (including Paediatric Advisor) and providing written report on main findings, activities, conclusions and further recommendations.
• Applying medical knowledge and skills to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of children, ensuring integrated new-born and paediatric care through Emergency, OPD, and IPD services in New-born and cases of malnutrition. Prescribing the necessary treatment, respecting MSF protocols. 
• Collaborating closely with the different department of the hospital (e.g. Maternity),
• Knowing and ensuring all updated MSF medical protocols and universal precautions are followed and implemented, reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control. 
• As an expert in paediatrics, proposing strategy (modification on current new-born and paediatric care management) and implementing them after validation of Operation and Paediatric Advisor. 
• Ensuring on-going new-born and paediatric training (formal and bedside) of the medical / paramedical multidisciplinary team to optimize the new-born and pediatrics quality of care. Reviewing and discussing selected complicated cases or mistakes and giving technical input.
• Keeping patients and their families informed of the illness and the treatment to follow, checking that they have been understood. Ensuring professional autonomy and confidentiality are respected and a good attitude and proper bedside manner towards the patient and their care takers and the rest of the medical team.
• Following up the evolution of the hospitalized/IDP patients through daily visits, consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Monitoring the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material and addresses the list of the missing item for new-born and paediatric activities. Providing inputs about general organization of the different paediatric wards, including the admission, transfer and discharge criteria + referral procedure from Maternity and post-delivery wards
• Checking and controlling the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his / her responsibility and taking care the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assuring general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participating in the introduction / improvement of the collection and analysis of epidemiological new-born and paediatric data, checking its validity and informing the line manager or project coordinator about any problems or complications of the patient’s illness and medical errors. Collecting Clinical cases for further trainings and list a series of comments to improve the current MSF protocols
• Managing the team under his/her direct responsibility according to MSF HR policies and procedures, supervising their performance, organizing and scheduling shifts and rotations, directly participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.
• Designing and providing training to staff as required.
• Debriefing with coordination, headquarters (including Pediatric Advisor) and providing written report on main findings, activities, conclusions and further recommendations.

Requirements

• Education: Consultant Paediatrician with Medical Degree from a recognized university
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years experience as a pediatrician in a hospital
• Languages: Hausa / Fulani language essential / Mission language desirable
• Knowledge: Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet).

Competencies: 

• People Management and Development L2
• Commitment to MSF principles L2
• Behavioural Flexibility L3
• Results and Quality Orientation L3 
• Teamwork and Cooperation L3.

Remuneration

• According to MSF salary scale plus 13th month allowance equivalent to 1 month of gross salary.

Application Closing Date
18th April, 2025: 4:00 PM.

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

Note
Application must include:

• Complete CV with Cover letter and copies of all certificates and diplomas mentioned in the CV
• Applicant Contact details and ID and contact of references mentioned in the application.
• Qualified females are highly encouraged to apply
• Only successful applicants will be called for next steps and are obligated to disclose any information about family member(s) currently in the employment of MSF-France in any location.
• Dual Employment is considered gross misconduct and hence not acceptable.
• MSF reserves the right to cancel any step or whole of the recruitment process at any stage.
• MSF France takes this opportunity to thank all potential candidates for their application
• No monetary transactions, neither demands of favours in kind, nor other types of favouritism will be tolerated in the MSF recruitment process.
• MSF reserves the right to refuse hiring a candidate having benefitted from any such acts. All illicit demands may be pursued through the judicial system.
• MSF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages any Nigerian citizen to apply irrespective of race, gender, religion, creed, political affiliation.