Assistant Public Health Officer at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Position number:                         NA               

Grade:                                           NOA

Contract Type:                             Temporary Appointment

Duration of Contract:                  Three Months (with possible renewal)

Duty Stations:                              Ogoja

Supervisor:                                  Head of Office

Proposed Starting:                     As Soon As Possible

UNHCR has also been involved in various IDP operations at the request of the concerned countries or the United Nations General Assembly/Secretariat General (UNGA/SG).  Further to the humanitarian reform in 2005, UNHCR has been appointed to ensure the leadership of Protection, Shelter/NFI and Camp management and camp coordination clusters in emergency settings. As a result, the staffing requirements have increased in UNHCR’s operations worldwide.  In Nigeria, UNHCR plays the role of coordination for the Protection sector working group and co- sharing with IOM the CCCM, Shelter and NFI sector. In the meantime, UNHCR as a protection agency is implementing activities in other to promote a favorable protection environment. UNHCR Nigeria consists of a Representation in the Federal Capital City, Abuja, a Field Office in Lagos, a Sub-Office in Maiduguri (Borno State), a Field Unit in Damaturu (Yobe State) and a Field Office in Yola (Adamawa State) in the Northeast, a Sub Office in Ogoja, a Field Office in Calabar (Cross River State) and a Field Office Adikpo (Benue State) in the Southeast.

The Assistant Public Health Officer incumbent reports to the Head of Sub-Office in Ogoja. S/he supports the Sub-Office with the implementation and monitoring of the public health programme, especially the referral health care system. The incumbent works closely with UNHCR Third party Administrators (TPA) (Partners), other UNHCR colleagues from protection, programme and resettlement to support identification and solutions for cases facing problems accessing or being discharged from hospital.

The incumbent will have the following responsibilities:

• Maintain regular contact with TPA senior management as well as relevant departments such as client and customer desks, data analysis, admissions or claims department.
• Work closely with TPA’s medical team (doctors and delegates).
• Review and rationalize hospital network together with TPA.
• Monitor achievements of TPA against set Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Provide accurate data and analysis on secondary and tertiary health care including detailed analysis of maternal and neonatal mortality.
• Highlight breaches of quality of care and access issues.
• Conduct frequent monitoring and evaluation visits to TPA service desks and hospitals.
• Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation visits to partner-supported PHC.
• Ensure UNHCR referral care SOPs are up to date and modified when needed, dissemination and training to various partners.
• Improve the referral pathway between primary and secondary health care level.
• Contribute to capacity building of the humanitarian partner, PHC network and hospitals.
• Ensure refugees are well aware of referral system by mass information.
• Monitor access to SHC by refugees.
• Review cases if needed including timely response, ECC referral, follow up, filing and data entry.
• Ensure coordination between the IPs and the ECC members for submission of cases and provision of feedback
• Work closely with UNHCR Programme, Field and Protection staff to identify priority health issues and key data requirements for programme planning and monitoring to ensure that minimum UNHCR and international standards are being met.
• Work closely with UNHCR Programme, Field and Protection staff on the management of individual cases to ensure Health aspects are mainstreamed and addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Work in a multi-sectoral and coordinated approach in cooperation with governments, UN agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other humanitarian partners.
• Promote basic health education for populations of concern and train Health Outreach Volunteers.
• Ensure strong linkages among health, nutrition, food security and HIV with protection and human rights.
• Improve coordination among partners and participate in capacity building efforts.
• Use community-based approaches, including clear involvement of persons of concern in the public health and nutritional programmes.
• Perform other related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Medical University Degree. Public Health (MPH, MSc) or Epidemiology/Statistics.
• Minimum 2 years of post-graduate clinical experience.
• Strong IT skills and familiarity with Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with Health Information Systems and statistical software.
• Knowledge of local institutions.
• Excellent working knowledge of English and local language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

• Experience in working directly with refugees, especially urban setting.
• Experience working with international organizations, including non-government organizations and UN agencies, in field of health and nutrition.
• Additional formal training in reproductive health, nutrition, infectious diseases, refugee health and/or community health.
• Knowledge of additional UN languages.