National Professional Officer for Communicable Diseases (SSA)

Overview

Provide technical support on disease prevention and control.

You have:

• First University degree in Medicine from an accredited University.
• At least five (5) years of experience in planning, management and implementation of communicable disease prevention and control interventions.
• Excellent knowledge of the English language.
• Proven experience in prevention and control of communicable diseases and project management.
• Strong managerial and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of guidelines and strategies for disease prevention and control.
• Proven skills in disease prevention, control, and elimination.
• Knowledge of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB, and Malaria.

Contract

This is a No grade contract. More about No grade contracts.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to the government and partners in policy development planning, capacity building, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs on integrated disease control, focusing on national and WHO priorities, such as HIV, TB, Malaria, other communicable diseases, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). It also aims at supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH), and other relevant government ministries and agencies to adopt and implement the WHO Integrated Guidelines and Strategy for HIV and Viral Hepatitis, the Global Technical Strategy (GTS) for Malaria, and the End TB Strategy, and provide support to the country to prevent, control, and eliminate targeted NTDs. It promotes and facilitates collaboration among teams, partners, and other relevant organizations or institutions engaged in the health system. Objectives of the Program (Overview of the Program) The objective of the Disease Prevention and Control program is to contribute to the integrated prevention and control of diseases, particularly those posing serious public health problems in the country and hence considered as priority by the MOH and WHO. The program aims at improving and building capacities to implement evidence-based prevention, control, and care interventions, including health system strengthening. In addition, the program aims at collaborating with the MOH and relevant agencies of government and relevant stakeholders within the framework of the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) aimed at significantly reducing the burden of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Malaria, and other vector-borne diseases, including targeted NTDs. The program contributes to the prevention, control, and elimination of these communicable diseases by providing strategic leadership, technical assistance, engaging in partnerships, and shaping the research agenda towards strengthening the capacity of the national programs of the Ministry of Health to reduce disease burden. Organizational Context The WHO Representative (WR) provides overall leadership and broad policy and program directions; assignments originate from the workplan, and the incumbent is expected to define work priorities and methods in consultation with his direct supervisor. Additional higher-level guidance will be provided by the Director for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases in the WHO Regional Office for Africa. The incumbent may contextualize or adapt interventions to prevailing circumstances and may establish new methods of work or guidelines in consultation with the WR. In addition to the above, under the guidance of the WR and in close collaboration with the technical team in the Regional Office and HQ, the incumbent develops and establishes Malaria prevention and control programs and activities, which will contribute to expand the implementation of the Malaria Global Technical Strategy and strengthen disease control by applying effective strategies, increasing the involvement and engagement of communities, health-care providers, non-governmental organizations and corporate partners, through technical support, resource mobilization, and effective partnerships. The cluster will consist of the following programs: HIV, Viral 3 Hepatitis, Malaria TB, other communicable diseases prevention, control, and elimination including NTDs. The incumbent will coordinator and collaborate with other programs/teams within the country office, across the organization and partners for coordinating the implementation of the planned activities, ensuring alignment of strategic objectives between HQ and AFRO on matters related to disease prevention and control. Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent has to do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected): Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative, and in close coordination with the technical teams in the country office and the regional office, the incumbent will perform the following: 1. Support the Ministry of Health in the development and implementation of HIV and Viral Hepatitis, Malaria, TB, and NTD strategic plans and detailed work plans and provide technical support to conduct Med-Term and End-Term reviews of the Strategic Plans. 2. Support the Ministry of Health in the adaptation and implementation of WHO recommendations, policy briefs, and guidelines for the prevention, control, and elimination of these diseases. 3. Support the HIV, TB, and NTDs programs to establish the disease burden estimates, impact and progress measurement of disease prevention and control strategies. The incumbent will collaborate with all concerned government departments, cross-cutting programs, bilateral and multilateral agencies, and NGOs to facilitate promotion of disease control interventions and exchange of information for strategic programming. 4. Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in policy revision and development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program on integrated disease control with emphasis on those posing serious public health problems and priority disease eradication programs. 5. Provide technical and programmatic support to the National Programs in planning, implementing, reviewing, monitoring and evaluation as outlined in the relevant plans of action. 6. Support resources mobilization for the relevant MOH Programs by supporting the development of Global Fund proposal and proposals to other donors /partners, including domestic resource mobilization. 7. Support, as necessary, local research institutions and universities to conduct implementation and operations research. 8. Promote multidisciplinary and integrated approaches to disease prevention and control and primary health care concept and participate in building and enhancing partnership. 9. Performs any other related duties as assigned by the WR.

Qualifications, experience, skills, and languages Education (Qualifications): Essential: First University degree in Medicine from an accredited University. Desirable: Advanced University degree in Public Health and training or proven experience in prevention and control of communicable diseases and project management. Experience: Essential: At least five (5) years of experience in planning, management and implementation of communicable disease prevention and control interventions and Neglected Tropical diseases–related activities. Desirable: Working experience with the WHO, health-related UN agencies, or similar experience with other international organizations. A minimum of 3 years of working experience in large public health programs or projects. Languages: Essential: Excellent knowledge of the English

Other Skills (e.g. IT): Computer skills - Knowledge of MS Office Suites (word processing, spreadsheet and data analysis, presentation) Expected Output: Functional Skills/Knowledge

Excellent knowledge of guidelines and strategies for disease prevention and control.

Strong managerial, leadership, and negotiation skills, ability to coordinate teamwork, establish and maintain effective working relationships in a challenging operating environment.

Knowledge of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB, Malaria and other Vector-borne Disease control and public health

Proven knowledge and skills in disease prevention, control end elimination. WHO Competencies

Teamwork Communication Producing results Respecting and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, including individual and cultural differences. Knowing and managing self

Location Liberia Monrovia Travel Travel within the country or district when required – Covered by WHO Country Office

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: who.int