Polio Surveillance Officers (SSA)

Contract

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

Purpose of the Position

To provide technical assistance to intensify AFP surveillance and improving quality of routine immunization as well as any campaigns that will be implemented. The main focus is on surveillance for Poliomyelitis Eradication due to wild or vaccine derived poliovirus and to rapidly detect and interrupt any outbreaks.

Summary of Assigned Duties

1. Provide technical guidance for coordination and planning of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) planning in high risk communities as well as SIA activities to reduce vulnerability in districts with low coverage.

2. Provide effective response to any importation of wild poliovirus or outbreak of circulating vaccine derived poliovirus in previously polio-free areas through planning, implementation, and coordination with partners for response to outbreaks in accordance with global guidelines.

3. Monitor progress and identify risks in regions or districts assigned. Identify constraints to polio eradication in priority regions and areas and support the development of plans of action to overcome those constraints.

4. Promote activities to enhance Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, including rapid surveillance assessments, development of action plans to improve surveillance, evaluation of the impact of these plans, and training/orientation of national and sub-national staff.

5. Ensure that districts are oriented on novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) in the even a case is confirmed.

6. Supervise Environmental Surveillance sample collection in the in the Oshakati, Engela and Rundu.

8. Identify training needs, evaluate and document outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices.

9 Develop and manage approaches that can achieve polio eradication while contributing to strengthening routine immunization systems.

10. Provide feedback on a monthly/quarterly basis to the RHMT, DCC’s, as well as National level.

11. Perform other duties assigned by the National Disease Surveillance/EPI Officer and EPI Team Leader of the region.

Accountability

The consultants will work under the direct guidance and supervision of the EPI Officer at the World Health Organization and in coordination with the Health Information and Research Directorate as well as the Primary Health care Directorate of the MOHSS.

Requirements

Educational Qualifications

Essential

• A degree in health (nursing, medicine, environmental) (Post Graduate degree in Public /Community Health, Social Sciences or related fields is an added advantage)
• Training in Surveillance or Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) with special emphasis on Acute Flaccid Paralysis Surveillance (Polio Eradication).

Experience • Essential: 7 years of relevant experience in surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and or immunization service delivery at district, regional or national level

Desirable

• Experience in conducting supplementary immunization activities and campaigns such the National Immunization days (NIDs)
• Excellent knowledge of latest developments on EPI, Polio Eradication

Competencies

Respecting the culture and belief of different nationalities, communicating in credible way, producing results, excellent communication and analytical skills; knowledge of computer applications is desirable.

Use of Language skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

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Workplace

The consultants will be based in the bordering regions (Ohangwena, Kavango East and West, Kunene, Zambezi, Oshana, Oshikoto and Omusati with frequent travel (80%) to high priority districts to provide support in all surveillance and immunization related activities in preparation for possible introduction of nOPV2 .

Duration:

Consultancy is expected to start on 20 July 2021 until 20 December 2021.

Position might be filled sooner due to the urgency of the matter.