Laboratory Management Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

Strengthening Laboratory and Surveillance Systems to Control COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases in Eswatini. Provide technical support to the government in laboratory management for COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases.

Working under the overall guidance and supervision of the WHO Country Representative / Health Systems Strengthening Team in Eswatini, the UNV will act as the laboratory expert and provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and partner, in that he/she will:

• Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) Eswatini on addressing all issues pertaining to laboratory testing; • Support national efforts with stakeholders and laboratory networks; and support implementation of programs, partnerships and activities that support diagnostic systems; • Support development of strategies and plans to strengthen laboratory role in integrated disease surveillance; • Support development of workplans, specimen handling, pathogen isolation and archiving; • Provide support with information sharing among other practices as informed by the relevant WHO guidelines and norms; • Support the implementation of laboratory quality management systems, particularly, BSL2 Laboratories in Pigs Peak Government Hospital and Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital; • Monitor progress made on laboratory testing for COVID-19, including support on mapping of laboratories involved in molecular testing and sequencing for COVID-19 in Eswatini; • Participate in other sub pillar meetings to contribute on laboratory activities for COVID-19 and other epidemics response; • Support updating monthly summary progress report of laboratory activities in Eswatini; • Perform any other duties as assigned

Accountability; adaptability and flexibility; client orientation; commitment and motivation; empowering others; ethics and values; integrity; judgement and decision-making; knowledge sharing; leadership; planning and organizing; professionalism; respect for diversity; self-management; technological awareness; working in teams.

Laboratory service support and collaborating with key stakeholders in MoH; • Experience in providing technical support to the MoH and other medical institutions; • Establishes standards to maintain medical laboratory equipment and ensuring optimal performance thereof; • Drafting and contributing to workplans and other best practices; • Maintains medical laboratory productivity and other functional areas. • Any other related skills.

Eswatini is a landlocked country bordering South Africa and Mozambique with a population of 1.2 million. Eswatini has close economic ties to South Africa, which it depends on for about 85% of its im-ports and about 60% of exports. Eswatini is a member of the Common Monetary Area (CMA), with Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Under the CMA, the Eswatini lilangeni (the domestic currency) is pegged to the South African rand, which is also legal tender in the country. The country’s economy rebounded in 2021, despite the continued COVID-19 pandemic and the June 2021 political unrest. The vaccination campaign, which reached about 29.2 percent of the population at end March 2022, helped to contain the spread of the virus and eased uncertainties on both demand and supply prospects. Though the June-July political unrest resulted in the destruction of physical assets, theft of inventory, and constrained operational hours, its impact on production was partly mitigated as firms accessed a Reconstruction Fund set up by the Government to cushion business from damages of the political unrest. It is a great tourist destination and a family duty station. https://www.unv.org/