Technical Officer, Cardiovascular Health at Vital Strategies

Resolve to Save Lives is a global health initiative that aims to save millions of lives by reducing preventable deaths from cardiovascular disease and preventing infectious disease epidemics. Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) is housed within Vital Strategies. Since September 2017, Resolve to Save Lives has worked closely with low- and middle-income country governments, the World Health Organization, academic and other civil society partners to build capacity for and implement a core package of interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease. The Resolve to Save Lives Cardiovascular Health Initiative focuses on large-scale hypertension management, global elimination of trans fat, and effective interventions to reduce sodium consumption. Resolve’s cardiovascular health programming and surveillance is being supported in India, China, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Turkey and the PAHO region in partnership with national governments and other organizations. For more information about our cardiovascular health programming, visit: www.linkscommunity.org

In Nigeria, Resolve to Save Lives is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization on a hypertension prevention and control project in selected Local Government Areas of two States. The project aims to improve population hypertension control through screening, treatment, monitoring, and health education at the primary health center level. Resolve to Save Lives also supports dietary trans fat elimination activities in Nigeria, through the World Health Organization, the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.

Overall Role and Duties:

Resolve to Save Lives seeks a Cardiovascular Health Technical Officer to support efforts to prevent cardiovascular disease in Nigeria. This is a full-time position based in Abuja and requires frequent travel to the field. The Cardiovascular Health Technical Officer will report to the Resolve to Save Lives Country Representative in Nigeria.  They will receive technical support from the Resolve to Save Lives Director of Global Hypertension Control and Director Nutrition Policy and Surveillance who are based in New York. The CVH Technical Officer will also receive periodic technical guidance and remote or on-site support from Resolve’s Nigeria Hypertension Control Consultant.

The Cardiovascular Health Technical Officer shall be responsible for the following:

• Ensure technical and programmatic training on cardiovascular health, including hypertension management, for health care workers and other relevant staff
• Ensure that health workers record and store program hypertension data using a standardized recording and reporting system
• Oversee coordination of monthly reporting on hypertension treatment activities, ensuring timely submission of high-quality data from the Local Government Areas and States regarding provision of hypertension treatment
• Coordinate the regular analysis of State-level surveillance and epidemiological data and share findings with FMoH for appropriate follow up
• Provide regular updates to the FMoH on health care worker mentoring and technical activities being implemented across the program sites
• Collaborate with the FMoH and other key governmental bodies in planning and monitoring availability and timeliness of blood pressure measurement device and drug delivery to all health facilities in the project sites
• Work closely with field partners to address any obstacles to program success
• Work with RTSL headquarters staff to determine appropriate salt reduction strategies in Nigeria and help coordinate those strategies once they are in place
• Coordinate with in-country partners and RTSL headquarters on dietary trans fat elimination activities including policy development, trans fat testing of food, laboratory support, and industry reformulation activities
• Represent RTSL at meetings to advocate for dietary trans fat elimination policies in Nigeria and in neighboring countries, as opportunities arise
• Support the FMoH in undertaking a STEPwise approach to NCD surveillance (STEPS) to obtain core data on established risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Nigeria
• Regularly track and report on progress against operational goals and objectives
• Perform other duties as assigned by Resolve Directors

Qualifications sought:

• MBBS / MD with at least two years’ experience working on chronic care at the primary health care level, and a Master’s in Public Health with at least 5 years’ experience implementing public health programs
• Experience working on non-communicable diseases and preferably cardiovascular diseases
• Knowledge of technical and programmatic aspects of a cardiovascular public health program with ability to identify and quickly address challenges or obstacles
• Training and/or technical support provision experience
• Experience in policy development and implementation is desirable
• Strong analytical skills
• Demonstrated experience managing partnerships
• Exceptional inter-personal skills and ability to communicate and work effectively with the FMoH and State level government partners
• Solid report writing skills
• Fluency in local language(s) and English
• Willingness and ability to travel to program sites