Medical 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.

Host Agency/Host Institute: United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) – http://monusco.unmissions.org

Organizational Context/Project: MONUSCO/MONUC was established in 1999 under the auspices of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

Within the terms of the organization’s delegated authority, and under the direct supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Clinical Duties:

Undertake day-to-day clinical duties, e.g. walk-in clinic, emergencies, pre-placement and periodic medical examinations, immunizations, etc; Participate in addressing work environment and occupational health issues;
Handle medico-surgical emergencies
Organize and deliver Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation and first aid training to United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo staff;
Manage Medical staff in the field office including emergency response, medevac and other clinic activities.
On call for emergencies when and as required.
Shifts work as required by CMO (Chief Medical Officer)
Ensure that disease preventive measures for epidemics including Covid 19, Ebola and other transmissible diseases and non-infection diseases is undertaken regularly and followed up.

Medico Administrative Duties:

Liaise with UN-Military Medical Units in the mission and host-nation medical facilities;
Follow the United Nations established policies and procedures regarding medical clearances, sick leave and medical evacuations;
Deputize for a more senior Medical Officer during his/her absence.

Supervision of the Administrative requirements:

Manage day-to-day mission medical support operations by ensuring availability of supplies and proper functioning of medical equipment;
Ensure that appropriate training programs are implemented in order to maintain and develop the medical capabilities (e.g. health education, HIV/AIDS prevention, first aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation).
Ensure that Occupational health and safety of the field office is respected and well maintained.

General:

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff at large; staff within work unit, Staff Counsellors, Senior Management throughout the organi

at least 3 years in related field

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and as a result is quite diverse.

Living conditions therefore vary between MONUSCO duty stations, with all usual amenities present in the capital Kinshasa, but only very basic conditions in remote duty stations in the provinces, where, for instance, there may be no guarantee of public power supply nor running water. The ability to live and work in difficult and harsh conditions of developing countries is essential.

Accommodation is very expensive in both Kinshasa and Lubumbashi. Supermarkets exist in the large towns (e.g. Bukavu, Kisangani), but consumer items are generally very expensive (as everything is imported). For food, local markets offer a much cheaper alternative.

All MONUSCO duty stations are considered non-family duty stations, except for Kinshasa, Lubumbashi and Entebbe which are now considered family duty stations, and most are currently under UN Security Phase III (“relocation phase”: internationally-recruited staff are temporarily concentrated or relocated to specified sites/locations). In addition to insecurity related to the relatively volatile political situation as well as various conflict situations, certain places are subject to increasing street and residential crime, including in Kinshasa and Goma.

Some degree of medical service is provided in all MONUSCO duty stations. Certain vaccinations are mandatory for MONUSCO personnel to enter the DRC, while others are compulsory for all other incoming persons. It is possible for incoming MONUSCO personnel, including UN Volunteers, to be asked to provide proof of some or all vaccinations, though this is unlikely. All UN Volunteers must ensure that they are up-to-date with all appropriate vaccinations, which should be clearly and properly endorsed in the International Certificate of Vaccination (“carte jaune”). Malaria is present virtually throughout the DRC, and it is therefore recommended to take prophylaxis.

The unit of currency is the Congolese Franc. The US dollar is the other preferred currency. It may be impossible to exchange traveller’s checks away from the capital city. Credit cards are usually accepted in major hotels only in Kinshasa. In larger towns and cities (e.g. Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, Kisangani), UN Volunteers are recommended to open US Dollar bank accounts, while in other places, banks may be absent (including ATMs) and VLA payments will be processed in cash. UN Volunteers have the possibility to send part of their allowances to a bank account abroad.

In addition to French, there are four major spoken languages in DRC, namely Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba and Swahili.