Surveillance/ Immunization Officer

Purpose and Objectives of the Program

Angola has been affected by a big c-VDPV2 outbreak since April 2019. WHO in collaboration with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is providing technical support to the outbreak response efforts. So far 16 out of the 18 provinces has confirmed circulating type VDPV2 cases and outbreak response activities are ongoing to reach the remaining districts and provinces. Subsequently it is very important to reinforce Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance in order to detect any breakthrough viruses. For this purpose, it is necessary to increase the number of surveillance officers.

Organizational Context (Describe the work environment, the role of the individual within the team – team member, specialist, adviser, facilitator, coordinator/manager, representative, expert, authority in the field, etc.; available guidelines and degree of independence in decision making, and nature and purpose of contact within and outside the Organization):
In the country of assignment, reporting to the Incident Manager, and based on priorities set by the Incident Manager and the WHO Head of Country Office, the incumbent will act as field officer for the surveillance and Immunization activities. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with relevant technical officers at the national level and subnational levels.

Summary of Assigned Duties (Describe what the incumbent should do to achieve main objectives; include main achievements expected):

Surveillance:

• Provided technical support to district, zonas and health facilities (private and public) to prioritize surveillance reporting sites by category of high, medium and low including the inclusion of informal community reporting such traditional healers, pattern medical vendors, healing house, community volunteers etc;
• To conduct active case search in line with the recommended number of visits by category of each reporting sites using online checklist on the ODK platform;
• Provide technical support for the training of various cadres of health works and surveillance focal points at province, district and sub-district level;
• Conducted advocacy visits to relevant line authorities at provincial, district and sub-district level for holistic approach to planning aimed at enhancing local commitment, pro-active participation and ownership;
• Share monthly work plan and activities conducted to WCO and other stakeholder

Immunization:

Jointly with the immunization team at provincial and district levels.

• Provided technical support to provincial, district and sub-district areas to adapt and develop microplans for polio outbreak response immunisation in collaboration with local leaders and local health officers;
• To provide technical support for the recruitment and selection of vaccination team members in collaboration with local traditional, religious and political leaders and ensure that the each team member comes will work within his/her area of domicile;
• To support and guide team members on the development of daily work plan/itinerary for vaccination teams including maps;
• To support the planning and distribution of vaccines, data collection tools and other immunisation materials from district level to coordination areas and team level and at the end of each day support vaccine vials accountability process;
• Provided technical support to provincial, district and sub-district areas to adapt, develop health facility catch area micro-plan based on the revised Reaching Every Child strategy in order to scale up and improve routine immunization service delivery;
• Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

Required qualifications

• Education:
• Essential: A university degree in a health, social, or environmental science and a master’s degree in a health science, public health, or in a discipline related to emergency and disaster management from a recognized institution;
• Desirable: A degree in medicine or specialized training in emergency and outbreak management or specific training in humanitarian response, disaster preparedness, or risk reduction would be an asset.

Experience:

• Essential: Two years of national experience in the following is a necessary requirement: Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance, Polio vaccination campaigns and polio outbreak response;
• Desirable: Experience in routine immunisation would be an asset. Field experience in polio outbreak independent monitoring and Lot Quality Assurance survey (LQAs), would be an asset.

General

Computer skills:

• Essential: MS word, Excel, Power point;
• Desirable: Analytics such as SPSS, ODK based tools, Tableaux, Power BI, ArcGIS.

Language (Speak and write)

• Portuguese is essential;
• English an added advantage.

Workplace: 18 provinces of Angola

Contract Period: Four months

Supervision

• Under the direct coordination of the Incident Manager and the general supervision of the WHO Representative in Angola.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that candidates may be contacted before end of posting.
Merci de noter que les candidats pourront être contacter avant la date prévue de la clôture de l’avis de vacance.