Health Officer at Vision for Inclusive Solutions and Transparency Initiative (VISTA INITIATIVE)

Purpose of the Position

• The Health Officer will strengthen the planning, delivery, and monitoring of health interventions in line with organizational strategies, national health policies, and donor requirements.
• The role ensures quality, equitable, and accessible health services, including referral pathways, while contributing to proposals, health market assessments, donor reporting, and technical program support.

Key Responsibilities
Health Program Implementation:

• Support planning, coordination, and delivery of primary health care (PHC) services, including maternal and child health, immunization, disease prevention, and outpatient care.
• Assist in the management of mobile health clinics, outreach services, and health campaigns.
• Ensure adherence to national health guidelines, protocols, and standards.
• Integrate health interventions with Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Education programs.

Health Surveillance, Monitoring, and Reporting:

• Monitor and report health indicators, morbidity, mortality, and outbreak trends.
• Support health data collection, analysis, and reporting using approved tools.
• Conduct site visits, supportive supervision, and quality checks for health service delivery.

Referrals and Case Management:

• Establish and maintain effective referral pathways for patients requiring specialized care.
• Coordinate with local health facilities, hospitals, and community health actors to ensure timely referrals.
• Support follow-up of referred cases and document outcomes.
• Ensure referral services are safe, accessible, and inclusive for women, children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

Proposal Development:

• Provide technical inputs for health-related proposals, concept notes, and funding applications.
• Support costed health budgets, program narratives, and activity plans for donors.
• Support health assessments to identify service gaps, community needs, and resource requirements.
• Contribute to donor engagement, technical reviews, and program design.

Health Education and Community Engagement:

• Promote community health awareness, hygiene practices, and disease prevention measures.
• Conduct health education sessions, community mobilization, and sensitization campaigns.
• Strengthen community participation in health programs, including women, youth, and marginalized groups.

Coordination and Capacity Building:

• Coordinate with local health authorities, UN agencies, INGOs, and community actors.
• Support capacity building of health staff, volunteers, and community health workers.
• Represent VISTA Initiative in health coordination forums, technical working groups, and clusters.

Compliance, Risk Management, and Safeguarding:

• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and national health regulations.
• Promote safeguarding, PSEA, gender equality, and disability inclusion in health interventions.
• Identify and mitigate health-related risks and ensure ethical and safe service delivery.

Key Deliverables:

• Health services delivered according to organizational standards, national protocols, and donor expectations.
• Functional referral systems established and operational, with documented follow-ups.
• Accurate and timely health data, reports, and monitoring outputs.
• Technical inputs provided for proposals, concept notes, and donor reporting.
• Health market assessments conducted, with actionable recommendations.
• Health staff and community workers trained and supported.
• Strengthened linkages with government, partners, and communities.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Nursing, Medicine, Community Health, or related field (Master’s degree is an advantage).
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in health program implementation, preferably in humanitarian or crisis-affected contexts.
• Knowledge of Nigerian health systems, primary health care, and referral mechanisms.
• Experience in data collection, monitoring, and health market assessments.
• Experience with donor-funded programs is an advantage.

Core Competencies and Skills:

• Strong knowledge of health program implementation, maternal and child health, and disease prevention.
• Familiarity with referral systems and patient case management.
• Experience contributing to proposals, concept notes, and donor reporting.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and coordination skills.
• Ability to work in remote, fragile, and conflict-affected settings.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and health information systems.
• High integrity, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
• Fluency in English; local languages (Kanuri, Hausa, Fulani) is an advantage.

Safeguarding and Code of Conduct:

• The WASH Officer must adhere to VISTA Initiative Code of Conduct, Child Safeguarding Policy, and PSEA Policy. Any form of exploitation, abuse, or misconduct will not be tolerated.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

• VISTA Initiative is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from diverse backgrounds.