State Surveillance Officer at Pro-Health International

The IRPHENPlus Project

• IRPHEN is a United States Centre for Disease Control-funded Global Health Security project to support the implementation of the IHR (2005) in Nigeria.
• The project aims to build systems and the capacities of the competent authorities in the Nigerian Health Surveillance System, (as defined by the National Action Plan for Health Security) to build critical capacities towards the achievement of national and regional health security.
• IRPHEN works with The Federal Ministry of Health (specifically the Port Health Services Division) and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (Nigeria’s National Public Health Institute) to support the design and implementation of strategies across key areas of Global Health Security such as Surveillance and Reporting, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, Point of Entry and Linking Public Health to Security.

Role Summary

• In the current year IRPHENPlus project is focused on improving surveillance, preparedness, and response to public health emergencies at the sub-national level specifically in 4 states Ebonyi, FCT, Ondo, and Sokoto State.
• The Surveillance officer provides technical assistance to the designated state epidemiology team and the emergency operations center to improve surveillance and outbreak investigation.

Description of Duties

• Facilitate the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) including participation in the process of verification and risk assessment on reported public health events.
• Support the implementation of SORMAS in the state.
• Support the state epidemiologist in developing and implementing outbreak preparedness and response activities.
• Support the state epidemiologist in strengthening coordination between surveillance and laboratory teams.
• Provide technical leadership to the State surveillance team on the use of surveillance data for data-driven decision-making.
• Provide mentoring, support, and supervision to LGA DSNOs and asst. DSNOs on data collection and data entry using the SORMAS tool.
• Conduct, in collaboration with other team members, real-time analysis of outbreak intelligence data, from a broad range of sources including non-health sectors, for epidemic forecasting and detection.
• Work with state epidemiologist, state DSNO, and others as indicated to analyse collected surveillance data and provide feedback.
• Support the appropriate use of the SORMAS tools and troubleshoot problems.
• Support the activities of the state public health EOC.
• Develop a business case for the expansion of the sample transport network in the assigned state.
• Undertake any other tasks assigned by the Manager.

Requirements Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Field Epidemiology Training Program or University Degree in Epidemiology, Statistics, Database Management or Public Health from an accredited/recognized institute.
• Desirable: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Master’s Degree in Epidemiology, Statistics, Database Management or Public Health.

Experience:

• Essential: At least five years' related experience,with Nigeria’s surveillance system or Monitoring and Evaluation or Field research at the national and state levels, quantitative epidemiology and the implementation of public health surveillance, outbreak investigation, and response.

Desirable:

• Experience working with SORMAS tool or any other surveillance tool. Experience in managing surveillance data at the LGA or state level Skills.

Skills:

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite and Epi info or SPSS.
• Strong data collection, analysis, and report writing skills required.
• Ability to work independently, think analytically, and take initiative in solving problems.
• Ability to communicate technical issues effectively.=
• Good verbal communication skills in the local language of the state of assignment and working knowledge of English.
• A strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with groups of diverse backgrounds.