Medical Nurse

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.

Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional implications, the Security Council authorized on 10 April 2014 deployment of a multidimensional United Nations peacekeeping operation – MINUSCA, with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority. Its other initial tasks included support for the transition process; facilitating humanitarian assistance; promotion and protection of human rights; support for justice and the rule of law; and disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation processes. The newly established mission subsumed the UN Integrated Peace building Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA) on the date of the establishment and has been set to take over authority in military and police matters from the African Union-led peacekeeping operation – MISCA – on 15 September 2014. (http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusca/).

Under the overall direction of the MINUSCA Medical Officer/ Chief Medical Officer, the UNV Medical Nurse will perform the following tasks:

• Attends to the MINUSCA clinic on a full-time basis and assists the medical doctor(s) in the provision of both primary and secondary health care to all Mission personnel. • Provides necessary primary care for minor injuries. • Administers vaccination to UN Mission personnel. • Responds to emergency calls during and outside office hours when necessary and assists Medical Officer(s) in providing adequate care, including stabilization of emergency cases. • Assists in providing medical support during referrals and medical evacuation exercises when required. • Conducts medical escorts for very sick UN personnel during medical evacuations. • Ensures effective liaison between patient and doctor, paramedics, and colleagues as appropriate. • Performs clinical assessment of patients visiting the walk-in clinic and diagnostic, including screening tests such as: vital signs, physical parameters, ECG, visual acuity, laboratory tests, e.g., FBS and/or RBS, Rapid test kits and other tests as required. • Assists and facilitates referral and/or medevac of Mission personnel to the next higher of care. • Ensures preparedness of staff travelling on missions or reassignments, including administration of appropriate vaccine, instructions on malaria prophylaxis and other travel-related ailments. • Provides Health Education and health promotion programs, in addition to group health briefings for newly arrived MINUSCA Personnel. • Participates in the stabilization of emergency cases. • Assists in maintaining records of patients' medical data, including consultations and treatment and maintains strict confidentiality with regards to patients’ medical records • Performs injection, dressing, stitching, foreign body extraction, etc. • Dispenses drugs in the pharmacy and assists in raising drugs and consumables requests on quarterly/need basis. • Ensures adequate requisition, storage and maintenance of accurate records of medical equipment, drugs and consumables in the health facility at all times. • Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations. • Calls for assistance from health care support personnel, • Participates in work environment assessment, e.g., office ergonomics, and addresses other occupational health issues. • Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential. • Documents patients’ care services by charting in the patients’ and department’s records. • When working with (including supervising) national staff or (non-)governmental counterparts, the incumbent should set aside dedicated time for capacity development through on-the-job training, coaching and mentoring. • Participates in other health activities and related duties, as assigned by the Medical Officer/ Chief Medical Officer.

Communication, Integrity, Professionalism

nursing. Knowledge of life saving procedure is essential.

Central African Republic is a non-family duty station with a difficult security and working environment. The country is landlocked with very limited travel possibilities and surrounded by countries with volatile and security problems (Chad, DR Congo, Sudan, and Cameroon). Volatile socio-political situation and social unrest and grievance in particular in the capital city Bangui with frequent civil servants strikes causing interruption of health, education and civil service due to years of unpaid salaries. Power cuts are a norm causing insecurity in town. The population in Bangui including the expatriates is concerned about increasing cases of criminalities as a direct result of the March 2013 coup by the SELEKA – a coalition of rebel groups and recent events in December 2013 that carried the country into a chaos.

The country is totally dependent on Cameroon sea port situated 1500 kms away causing regular shortage of basic domestic goods. Travel time from Douala (Cameroon) to Bangui for a truckload averages a week because of very bad roads and several roadblocks. The country security level is between 3 and 4 restricting movement to official travel only. Currently the curfew applies from 10 pm to 6 am.

This situation puts tremendous stress on staff and their family members. There are very limited medical infrastructures and services do not function properly. Nevertheless, a UN Dispensary provides basic medical care for the UN personnel and the UN hospital built is operational since August 2014.

Only four airlines officially recognized by UN System serve the country: Air France (once a week), Royal Air Maroc (twice a week), Kenya Airways (three flights per week) and Asky (three flights per week). Flights are sometimes subject to cancellation when security situation volatility increases.

Staff in Bangui (MHQ) lives on local economy by renting apartments and houses. In comparison to 2014 more accommodation is available but with high costs therefore sharing is recommended. Supermarkets having all variety of food and appliances are available but costlier than normal process. Also Level II Hospital run by military medical team is available next to the MHQ.

Bossangoa Sector North HQ) is located in western CAR, approximately 500 Km from Bangui (capital city) where living conditions are quite acceptable. The local market is opened every day and well furnished with seasonal fruit and basic goods. Military Level I clinic exists but the mission has plan to provide better facility. MINUSCA has constructed tented camp for civilian personnel with air-conditioned and acceptable standards and prefabricated accommodation camps started in May 2016. Similarly installation of office prefabricated units also ongoing. There is catering services provided by a commercial entity on payment basis. The security situation is stable but an escort is needed for some distance.

Rest & Recuperation (R&R) scheme in Bangui has been re-established since August 2013 and maintained for all CAR duty stations to a 6 weeks frequency. Living conditions are becoming more and more difficult due to the high cost of living and the scarcity of basic products and food. Fresh vegetables and fruits are available in the market. There is no MINUSCA Guest House in Bangui. Private accommodation possibilities are limited and getting a house according to the security measures can take about 4 weeks or more. Nevertheless, currently all serving UN Volunteers have a decent accommodation ensuring minimum and above the minimum standard of comfort. The average cost for accommodation varies from around 500 USD, for a small apartment with no furniture and no power generator, to 1700 USD with all commodities.

For the sake of rewarding experience, UN Volunteers in CAR carry out their duties with flexibility, commitment, and a willingness to live and work in challenging conditions including heat and limited water and electricity supply.