Polio Outbreak Response Coordinator at World Health Organization (WHO)

Objectives of the Programme

• The objective of the programme is to support national authorities reduce morbidity, disability and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases through improving access and utilization of immunization services through strengthenedVPD and Health Emergencies programmes; accelerating efforts to interrupt transmission of polio virus outbreaks, acceleratedmeasles control, elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus,
• Elimination ofYellow Fever Epidemics; promote innovations and special interventions aimed atreaching hard to reach and high-risk populations; improve vaccine safety and security and promote systematic access to immunization services in known oremerging reservoirs of vaccine preventable diseases

Description of Duties

• The key functions of the Technical Officer, Outbreak Response and Special interventionsare:
• To facilitate coordination of outbreak response planning, implementation and monitoring aimed at promoting synchronization of immunization activities.
• To facilitate adaptation/Revision of outbreak response Norms, standards and guidelines, assuring compliance with the emergency response framework (ERF) and other globally/regionally adapted standard operating procedures To provide technical assistance to national authorities in priority states to adopt and implement National immunization Strategies and programme's best practices to state specific conditions;
• To support national authorities in a priority states in preparing, reviewing and/or updating annual state immunization plans;
• To support capacity building activities in support of immunization operations(service delivery, vaccine supply and quality assurance, logistics, surveillance, advocacy and communication), immunization safety and strengthening human and institutional resources;
• To support capacity building activities aimed at the introduction of new and under-utilized vaccines as well as the delivery of immunization activities together with other priority disease control/child survival interventions;To support immunization monitoring and evaluation activities;
• To support activities aimed at strengthening partnership and advocacy in support of improving performance of immunization activities;
• To create synergies for transition and leveraging outbreak response infrastructure to support coverage improvements for essential immunizations;Perform other activities asrequired by WHO Representative

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Advanced Degree (Masters or higher) in a Health related field (Medicine or Health) from a WHO recognized university
• Desirable: Advanced certified training in Epidemiology/public health/communicable diseases controland/or health promotion

Experience:

• Essential: At least 7 years of international experience in immunization and vaccine preventable diseases control. Demonstrated skills in organizing and technical support to outbreaks response interventions is an added advantage
• Desirable: Experience in outbreak response and immunization programming in developing countries

Skills:

• Willing and able to travel extensively within Nigeria;
• The candidate must possess effective writing and communication skills.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Producing results
• Moving forward in a changing environment

Use of Language Skills:

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.

Remuneration

• WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 75,602 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3194 per month for the duty station indicated above.
• Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.