Nutrition Assistant

Job Description

Organization Description

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation and post-conflict development services for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression. The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries around the world, addressing both the immediate and lifesaving needs of conflict affected people in emergencies and the reconstruction needs of post-conflict societies.

The IRC began programming in northern Uganda in 1998 in response to mass displacement and devastation wrought by rebel group, the Lord’s Resistance Army. In 2002, the IRC expanded to the remote, conflict-affected region of Karamoja and in 2011, began working with refugees in Kampala. Monitoring the influx of South Sudanese refugees at the end of 2015, the IRC began scaling up its response to refugees arriving in the West Nile region. By promoting durable solutions that deliver on the interdependent aims of saving lives, strengthening institutions, and supporting social cohesion, the IRC in Uganda is laying the building blocks for long-term stability and development –bringing people from harm to home. The IRC currently works in 9 districts in Uganda, including Kitgum, Lamwo, Kyegegwa, Moroto, Amudat, Yumbe, Arua, Kasese and Kampala.

Scope of Work

The Nutrition Assistant shall be responsible for providing health education talks, screening to children, women and their partners in the health facility and in the community on nutrition related issues. S/he will provide anthropometric assessment, recording, referral and linking clients to respective service points and shall maintain environment friendly working space hence adhering to infection control and prevention practices. S/he will provide nutrition services including but not limited to counseling, linkage and preparing treatment for the clients.

Roles and Responsibilities

•Participate in screening at the triage of children under the age of five to monitor and ensure early detection of malnutrition cases •Providing guidance on the purchasing of food and planning hospital meals. • Designing special diets for therapeutic purposes. •Participating in community outreach services for adequate nutrition. •Participating in research activities. •Will be supporting the admissions of severe malnutrition cases following properly laid down standards. Prepare and feeding of severely malnourished patients under observation in the inpatient wards. •Will be responsible for case management of malnutrition patients on follow-ups and those on ward and ensure that all routine medications are administered appropriately. •To counsel and advise in-patients/follow-ups/parents/guardians on proper care and nutrition at home. •To carry out home visits as a follow up on discharged patients to ensure adherence of the clients on the nutrition programs. •Support the EPI department through carrying out routine growth monitoring activities and ensuring that all malnourished children have child health cards •Ensure that all the stored food supplements are safe and free from contamination and theft and the store is clean all the time. •Ensure the kitchen for preparation of therapeutic milk for severely malnourished children and the surrounding environment is clean, hygienic and well maintained. •Prepare and submit the nutrition reports for both the in patients and out patients as guided by the nutrition officer. •Perform any other duty as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

•Must have a Diploma or Bachelors in Human nutrition and dietetics. •At least 1 year of work experience, with field experience in a health and nutrition project implementation. •Concern for quality and standards •Communication •Ethics and integrity •Self-control and stress management •Time management

Deadline for receiving applications is February 14th 2022.

Professional Standards

The IRC and IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

All staff, regardless of role, are required to create a culture of client responsiveness by requesting and using client feedback data to make decisions. In addition, all staff are expected to demonstrate inclusiveness when making programmatic decisions and working with clients, partners and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. You can read more about the IRC’s commitment to client responsiveness here: https://www.rescue.org/resource/client-responsiveness-introduction-and-faq

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.