Specialist for Tuberculosis prevention

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.

The estimated incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Mozambique is 368/100,000 cases/inhabitant, meaning that the disease affects around 115,000 new Mozambicans annually. In the last five years, Mozambique has shown progress in the notification of TB cases, rising from 61,576 in 2015 to 97,093 in 2020 (a 36.6% increase). Of the reported cases, 13% represent childhood TB, and 30% represent the community-based approach contribution.

TB treatment coverage (notified/estimated incidence) in 2020 was 84%, and the TB case fatality ratio was 11%. Despite free diagnosis and treatment, TB remains a serious public health problem in Mozambique. HIV is still one of the key drivers of the TB epidemic in Mozambique. The TB/HIV Co-infection was 27% in 2020.

Furthermore, HIV is a leading cause of death and a health threat to millions. In 2020, there were 35,463 deaths from AIDS. Mozambique has the sixth highest HIV prevalence globally and ranks fourth in new HIV infections. Despite the alarming statistics, Mozambique has one of the largest HIV treatment programmes in the world, with 1.4 million people in treatment by December 2020.

The Tuberculosis Specialist (UNV) will join the WHO team in Mozambique to provide technical assistance to the national Government to implement four areas of cooperation with a TB-related focus.

Under the direct supervision of the STI, HIV, Hepatitis and TB technical Officer the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: • Advocate an evidence-based Tuberculosis and HIV-prevention approach in priority populations and geographic areas. • Strengthen a comprehensive approach of TB, VH, STI and HIV testing and prevention. • Work with the MoH and partners to facilitate dialogue and elevate the profile and visi-bility of WHO interventions on TB, HIV, HEP and STIs preventions activities. • Provide strategic and technical support for the development of TB policies, guidelines, and plans for HIV prevention and testing. • Support the translation of normative guidance from WHO and partners into actions and activities and enable progressive realization. • Ensure programmatic coordination with TB, HIV, Hepatitis, STIs MCH and mental health programmes to promote synergies and efficiencies. • Provide technical assistance for the implementation of the Global Fund grants • Development of Global Fund applications • Support TB screening activities aimed at identifying care needs, to improve overall programme indicators affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. • Support the development, implementation, monitoring and review of the Prevention ar-eas of the Joint UN Team on AIDS action plan. • Support on the implementation of the framework of Programmatic management of la-tent TB infection, TB preventive treatment guidelines and TB/HIV Management of comorbidities. • Strengthen implementation of the TB Infection control measures (administrative, envi-ronmental, and personal protection) and surveillance, including Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) • Represent WHO on the Technical Working Group on Prevention and the TB sub-groups. • Support interventions of TB and HIV preventions including GBV, PEP in humanitarian settings.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organization ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Working in Teams

• TB prevention and control activities, programming and implementation is required. • Ability to develop and facilitate the development of TB guidelines and effectively moni-tor progress in the use of guidelines is required. • Work experience in disease surveillance and epidemiology is highly desired. • Excellent drafting, formulating, reporting skills and accuracy in document development skills are desired • Demonstrated experience in project development, implementation, management, monitoring and capacity-building would be an asset. • Strong skills in gender mainstreaming would be considered an added advantage. • Work experience in a Least developing Country and in Africa, including Mozambique, would be considered an added advantage. • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate and negotiate with stakeholders, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships is required

Mozambique is a unique coastal country of the Southern Africa region with a total population of about 30 million people and Maputo is its capital city. Maputo offers comfortable living conditions and accommodation options with easy access to electricity, internet, water, banking services and food products of all sorts.

• Mozambique offering a stable and pleasant environment to live and work.

• It is tropical hot and humid. The hottest and wettest months in Maputo Province are December to February, when the average daily minimum temperatures are around 22°c and the average daily highs of 30°c. The rain season is between October and April. Winters (June to August) are mild with the average daily temperature ranging from 13°c to 24°c.

• The country is linked to the region and the rest of the world through regular air liaisons.

• Medical facilities are present though capacity and infrastructure are limited.

• Communication and transport services are available at various costs.

• Maputo city has several supermarkets that sell food, clothing, and household goods at reasonable prices.

• Prices of basic commodities and goods are not necessarily low but you can easily buy all that you need to live in Maputo.

• Currently, there are no significant security threats in Maputo and no direct threats to UN personnel or assets in the province.

• This duty station provides for an interesting and enriching environment but also require a mature level of cultural awareness, flexibility and the ability and willingness to adapt to local living and working conditions