Medical Officer SC10 | Kinshasa | DRC

Qualified women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

JOB TITLE****:

Medical Officer

TYPE OF CONTRACT:

Service Contract

GRADE:

SC10

DUTY STATION (City, Country):

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

DURATION:

12 months (with possible extension)

NUMBER OF POSITION:

1

WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The local healthcare system in DRC is weak and cannot at present assure of reliable access to the required healthcare facilities for level 3 health care (ICU) capacity in all the locations where WFP is operating. The COVID-19 pandemic presents a risk for staff to contract the disease while carrying out their duties in DRC. Shall this happen, it is paramount that an effective first line of defense against COVID-19 is in place ensuring access to quality health care in the country. It is noted insufficient technical platform for medical care in some of WFP offices within the framework of the DRC MAT (WFP clinics). Working closely with the RBJ staff wellness team, and other actors as appropriate (Security / Human resources / administration units etc.), the Medical Officer will spearhead support to staff on Covid-19 pandemic and other medical challenges they face, conduct health facility assessments, liaise with the UN Clinic, WHO and Ministry of Health, prepare and deliver communications related to wellness, prepare and facilitate training and awareness programs relevant to staff, and deemed important and necessary by the CO.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES (not all inclusive):

The Medical Officer will be responsible for the following key duties:

• To contribute in the design and coordination of the delivery of medical services in the DRC for efficient and effective promotion, prevention and protection of the health and safety of WFP staff following the Wellness Strategy and the Country Strategic objective;
• Provide technical expertise, advice and solutions that support strategic results, and contribute to the formulation of country strategies and approaches where appropriate;
• Provide travel medicine services for staff on official travel, incorporating destination-specific health advice, facilitating access to immunization, prophylactic medications and travel medical kits;
• Manage, advise, and report on all health matters related to staff including;

- Performing and assessing medical examinations and clearances for national staff related to recruitment, periodic medical examination, pre-departure briefing for missions to the field, management or assistance with follow-up of chronic medical condition diagnosed and for which treatment has already started etc.

- Leave due to illness; or identifying health hazards for staff and/or dependents (work-related and/or environmental).

- Ensuring compliance to all UN medical protocols and recommendations (HIV/AIDS, first-aid training PEP kit country specific protocols including PICT and VCCT).

- Support WFP Country Offices in the management and monitoring of the implementation of the Service Level Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding regarding the sharing of DPKO/DFS Missions field medical services to WFP staff;

• Access and liaise with local medical facilities to ascertain proper medical care rendered and establish a referral list and updated list of reasonable and customary costs, whilst monitoring and verifying appropriateness, reasonableness and customary nature of major medical bills / treatment as required;
• With the Wellness Unit, work on alternative solutions to address the issues of fraud in medical facilities,
• Provide surge capacity to the corporate and UN system emergency response capacity including mass casualty incidents;
• Implement staff health training (e.g. ongoing COVID-19 awareness, malaria prevention measures, first aid training); Follow-up of occupational health and safety issues outside Covid 19 in terms of prevention and promotion
• The medical officer is NOT the primary care physician of WFP Staff: however, s/he does provide first aid emergency services in response to accidents occurring in the workplace;
• Follows-up and provides orientation to staff /dependents on health issues
• Preventive medical guidance to colleagues on measures to be applied during field missions
• Implement health and SOP training with Cooperating Partners in relation to aspects of WFPs operations where WFP staff could be at risk of COVID-19.
• Participate in pre planning of WFPs Emergency response operations (e.g., food distributions) to ensure discussions filter planning through a health lens alongside logistics etc. to ensure WFP staff have appropriate protection measures in place.
• Propose, assess, update as needed SOPs for staff protection, in specific higher risk occupational settings (e.g., food distributions, ports and warehouses with casual laborers, drivers and cleaners).
• Coordinate with health sector colleagues on the UNCTs to improve healthcare access for UN staff and family members;
• Assess and respond to increase of disease incidents among WFP staff (e.g., high incidence rate of malaria in sub offices);
• Assess disease outbreaks or other environmental hazards that could have impact on WFP’s operations and recommend mitigating measures;
• Monitor WFP activities and needs involving health issues: Road traffic accidents involving physical harm to third parties, management of mortal remains
• Identify (confidentially) staff with stress or other psychological concerns and coordinate assistance as appropriate with Regional Staff Counsellor and the UNDSS Counsellor;
• In close collaboration with the HR unit and the RBJ wellness team, manage medical evacuations for all staff and their dependents as per WFP processes.
• Represent WFP in relevant medical platforms and meetings.
• Other tasks and responsibilities as delegated by the Regional Medical Officer, the Regional Staff Counsellor, the Management of the DRC CO or the Staff wellness team of RBJ.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:

• Doctor in Medicine.

  • Postgraduate medical qualification in, preferably, one of the following medical specialties: emergency medicine, internal medicine, occupational health and safety, and/or public health.
  • Current registered to practice medicine in own country or another UN member state is required.
  • Professional trainer’s certification related to infectious diseases i.e., Ebola, COVID-19.

  Experience:

• Have vast experience in any outbreak response and emergencies

  • Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in healthcare; at least 1-2 years should be in an international organization
  • At least five (5) years progressive experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict.
  • An asset would be experience within the UN system, or similar NGO.
  • Creation of training programmes
  • Workshop & presentation training

  Technical Knowledge & Skills:

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter;

  • Excellent communication, presentation and drafting skills;
  • Experience in emergency management (crisis or disaster medicine), travel medicine, tropical and infectious disease;
  • Knowledge of addressing the psychosocial needs of humanitarian workers;
  • Project management;
  • Formal training in CPR and, preferably in BCLS and ACLS or equivalent emergency medical care;
  • Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
  • Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
  • Remains calm in stressful situations

  Languages:

• Fluency (Oral and written) in French and English.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

This position is open to congolese (Democratic Republic of the Congo) nationals ONLY.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS

24 March 2022

Ref.: VA 159141

Kindly note the only documents you need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter****. Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc may potentially be requested at a future time.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.