Career opportunities at World Health Organizations
VPD Surveillance Officer – (2211286)
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): The duration of the contract will depend on the need of the functions.
Primary Location: Nepal-Kathmandu
Organization: SE_NEP WR Office, Nepal
Schedule: Full-time
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.
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Background
WHO Nepal Country Office supports Government of Nepal (GoN) in formulation, implementation and evaluation of national health policies, strategies and plans as guided by the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2018-22. WHO Country Office collaborates with GoN and relevant stakeholders to support their efforts for achieving national health goals including control of VPD as envisioned under strategic objective 2 (Effective delivery of priority public health programmes including VPD) of WHO Nepal CCS 2018-22. GoN has achieved significant gains in progress against VPD, like eliminating polio, massive reduction in incidence of measles and Japanese encephalitis, and has introduced several new vaccines in its national immunization programme. GoN has a goal of achieving measles elimination by 2023. Sustaining a sensitive surveillance information system for polio, measles and other selected VPD is essential to guide the immunization programme in achieving these goals.
Objective of the position
The Immunization Preventable Disease Programme of WHO Nepal (WHO-IPD) has been providing continuous technical assistance to the Government of Nepal (GON) mainly in areas of vaccine preventable disease (VPD) surveillance and immunization, for over past two decades. In addition, WHO-IPD has also supported the government in various emergency responses including the 2015 earthquake and current COVID-19 surveillance and response. WHO-IPD operates through a nationwide network of 15 surveillance medical officers working through 10 field offices managed by a central WHO IPD coordinating office.
VPD Surveillance Officer will provide overall technical assistance in control, elimination, and eradication of targeted VPDs. He/she is expected to provide high technical input and provide a pivotal support to the National Immunization Programme (NIP) of Nepal in achieving measles rubella elimination, maintain polio free status, sustain elimination status of neonatal tetanus, and control of other priority vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs)- Japanese encephalitis, rota viral disease, Invasive bacterial diseases (IBD), diphtheria etc.
Description of Duties
Under the overall guidance of Team Lead WHO IPD and direct supervision of the National Professional Officer- Surveillance Cluster Lead, the incumbent will work in close collaboration within WHO-IPD team to provide technical assistance to Family Welfare Division (FWD), National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and/or other relevant divisions of Department of Health Services (DOHS) and Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), GoN, to provide technical assistance for measles and other vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) surveillance to ensure surveillance performance standards are met, data analysed and disseminated for action.
Specifically, the incumbent will perform following duties:
1. Provide technical support to achieve measles, Rubella and CRS elimination/control targets:
- Provide technical assistance in surveillance for measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in accordance with national and WHO standards and targets,
- Update technical/operational guidelines for measles, rubella and CRS surveillance and elimination and outbreak response, as needed,
- Provide technical assistance and coordinate Rapid Response Teams at national and sub-national levels, IPD field offices, laboratory, and other government staff for outbreak investigations of suspected measles and rubella outbreaks and appropriate surveillance and immunization response.
- Coordinate with designated subnational measles laboratories to ensure adequate lab supplies and support for surveillance.
- Coordinate FWD on sharing update on measles rubella risk assessment findings to provinces.
- Coordinate with other existing systems of surveillance (e.g., EDCD unit, Laboratory) in the country to align and reconcile data reported from different surveillance systems in the country.
2. Provide technical support to sustain polio-free status:
- Technical assistance in expansion and review of environmental surveillance sites in all priority provinces.
- Update polio related guidelines/SOP in line with global polio eradication initiative.
- Periodic review of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases and feedback to local government through program division.
- Coordinate with FWD to share update on polio risk assessment findings and under-performing districts to subnational health authorities.
- Collaborate with Data and Immunization cluster to triangulate AFP surveillance data and enhance AFP surveillance activities.
3. Provide technical support to achieve control of Japanese Encephalitis and other VPD (e.g., neonatal tetanus etc.) control and elimination targets:
- Provide technical support in conducting appropriate surveillance in accordance with national and WHO targets
- Update surveillance guidelines, as needed.
4.Use of surveillance data for action
- Analyse surveillance data to provide feedback to immunization and rapid response teams to identify high risk areas for appropriate response
- With guidance from MO (EPI), coordinate across IPD clusters and Govt. counterparts facilitate use of surveillance data to drive response actions.
- Analyse surveillance data and other information to identify data and surveillance quality issues and take steps to correct them.
- Technical assistance for regular (monthly) review of reporting units’ status and engagement of private sectors in VPD reporting.
5. Capacity building: Identify VPD surveillance training needs, plan, implement and evaluate relevant training and capacity building activities at various levels of IPD team, as well as government staff and other stakeholders.
6. Support to applied research: Adapt global guidance to identify need for applied research in country context. Provide technical assistance and demonstrate competence in developing research proposals and supporting implementation of research activities.
7. Support VPD expert committees’ meeting and supervisory field visit of priority districts.
8. Support development of VPD poster, radio/video messages, pamphlets and other IEC materials as required.
9. Participate and actively engage in VPD and laboratory meetings with partners and stakeholders (e.g., NPHL and FWD) to provide quality technical input for strengthening VPD surveillance activities.
10. Function as a team player and perform other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Essential: First University degree in Medicine (MBBS) or equivalent.
Desirable: Post Graduate Training in Public Health, International health, epidemiology, pediatrics or in an allied discipline.
Experience:
Essential: At least three years’ experience in public health surveillance or related area.
Desirable:
- Working experience in immunization and vaccine preventable disease surveillance and/or control at a managerial level in the government public health system or INGOs or NGOs or bilateral or multilateral international agencies.
- Previous experience of working with WHO/UN experience in country/region/HQ.
- Experience in public health emergency preparedness and response.
Functional Skill and knowledge:
- Self-motivated with ability to work with a minimum of supervision
- Good interpersonal skills, able to work as a team member in a multi-cultural environment
- Ability to participate actively and cooperatively in knowledge sharing and policy forums at various levels and to coordinate the GoN agencies, international/bilateral agencies, NGOs/INGOS etc.
- Excellent writing skills in English, including ability to write clear and concise progress report, analytical reports, plans and proposals.
- Technical expertise: overall attitude at work is also required mandatory competencies.
Other Skills:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office: word processors, spreadsheets and other data processing, presentation programmes, Outlook and Internet and email is essential.
- Proficiency in Statistical / Epidemiological Analysis software desired.
Able to follow instruction and work independently would be an asset.
WHO Competencies:
- Producing Results
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individuals and cultural differences
- Communication
- Moving forward in a changing environment
Language: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken language skills in English and Nepali
Remuneration:
Monthly Salary: (Net of tax) NPR 239,245.00 (Grade: SSA Level IX) at single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws and functional modality will be through Special Services Agreement)
LEVEL: SSA 9
Duty Station: Kathmandu
Additional Information
- This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test and interviews will be used as a form of screening
- WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
- In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.
- Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
- Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
Closing Date: Dec 23, 2022, 4:44:00 AM
