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We are the directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. We do this by: providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed; shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; set...
Job Description
*Organizational context
Reporting to the State Coordinator and under the overall guidance of the Health Operations and Technical Expertise Lead, in close coordination with other members of the WCO Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Cluster, the incumbent manages the prevention and control of disease outbreaks and ensures the continuity of essential health services. S/he will provide technical pertinence and scientific soundness of the sub-national health operations. This requires ongoing contact with counterparts from health cluster partners, other technical staff in partner agencies (both within and outside the UN system), and counterparts of ministries of health (MOH). S/He will work with the technical team at the organization’s two (State/LGA) levels.
*Summary of Assigned Duties
(Describes what the incumbent must do to achieve main objectives, including main achievements expected)
Coordination of integrated COVID-19 vaccination campaigns with routine immunisation, non-Polio supplemental immunization activities(NPSIAs) and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) to strengthen essential primary health care services
Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of action to be taken in affected as well as non-affected LGAs/communities to prevent and control causes of excess morbidity and mortality
Provide technical assistance on vaccination, enhanced surveillance, infection control (including personal protection), enhanced sanitation and hygiene, increased water and nutrients, prepositioning drugs, and medical supplies, etc.
Technical support States to develop State Deployment and Vaccination Plan (SDVP) with input from stakeholders
Technical support to State COVID-19 Technical Working Group for quality coordination, planning and integration of COVID-19 vaccine in the state
Support states to identify and develop a master list of service providers who could effectively deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to various target populations
Ensure state adherence and use of the National Integrated COVID-19 vaccine manual/protocol. These protocols would include updating state-specific readiness assessments, delivery strategies, training modalities, surveillance and AEFI protocols
States Technical Assistants should liaise with SC / LGAs / SIOs / LIOs to plan and support the implementation of integrated COVID-19 vaccination campaigns
Monitor interventions to integrate COVID-19 response and vaccination campaigns into existing health service delivery interventions and provide feedback
In close collaboration with the State Surveillance Officer, support the Ministry of Health in conducting detailed outbreak investigation, effective and prompt response and determining effective disease control strategies, including reactive vaccination campaigns
To conduct an in-depth epidemiological assessment (describe the characteristics of the cases in time, place, and person) of any ongoing outbreak to determine the source of infection and risk factors for the continuous transmission
To strengthen the state team in coordinating and streamlining the outbreak response using the State Incident Management System (IMS) structure to enhance Surveillance, Case Management, Laboratory, WASH and Risk Communication activities
Technical support to strengthen the state’s disease surveillance system to detect, report, investigate, manage, and treat diseases and cases of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) in the state. Conduct the periodic reporting of integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR), active case search and updating the line list
Support the assessment of disruptions to essential health service provision at service delivery points at the State, LGA and community levels
Identify and strengthen mechanisms for monitoring essential health service (EHS) continuity and identify and address other gaps in any outbreak response
Manage the disease outbreak prevention and control activities in support of the MOH, collaborate with partners and facilitate the implementation of WHO’S most effective prevention, control, and response measures. Support the state in developing ICG request
Monitor the early prevention, detection, verification assessment and investigation of any risk of an outbreak, co-develop action plans for interventions in high-risk groups and recommend measures for special attention
To support the state with sample collection and transportation of samples in good condition to public health laboratory and the National reference laboratory Gaduwa, Abuja
Integrated COVID-19 training/orientations and sensitisation
Support the conduct of training of personnel for integrated vaccination campaigns as outlined in the national training plan
Liaise with State Immunisation Officers (SIOs) and Local Government Immunisation Officers (LIOs’) to support and facilitate training for teams and HWs on integrated COVID-19 vaccination
Conduct community sensitisation based on identified areas of needs from regularly analysed data
Update and submit to the State Coordinator (SC) with a copy to WCO of the list of sensitised community members, trained health workers and teams by Wards and LGAs to be included in the weekly and monthly reports
Validate the technical soundness of the training and communication materials
Provide technical support to the SIOs, LIO and teams to ensure active participation in the recruitment of vaccination teams
Participate in states and LGA level training, supervise and participate in the activity at the wards level and share summary training reports with action points with SC copy to WCO
Conduct Advocacy and Social Mobilisation for Demand Creation
Support monthly mapping out of areas/wards of non-compliance, under-served populations and the security-compromised regions by communities in the LGAs
Support State and LGA teams to advocate for resource mobilisation from the State/LGA leaders and partners and implement demand creation activities to improve COVID - 19 acceptance
Liaise with State and LGA authorities on advocacy plans to the State/LGA political leaders, Influencers, and traditional and religious leaders to promote compliance with the release of funds to support planned integrated COVID-19 campaigns.
Facilitate meetings with the community committees and opinion leaders to sensitise them to improve vaccine uptake
Ensure that messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation, and control of risks
Technical support to develop a robust advocacy, communication, and social mobilisation plan, which includes a risk management communication plan
Planning and Performance Management
Support states to estimate numbers of potential target populations for which COVAX is recommended, stratified by target group and geographic location
Support the State and LGA technical teams in planning COVID-19 vaccinations integrated with other PHC services in hard-to-reach and other priority target populations
Verify micro plans in high-risk wards and share findings with state coordinators before implementation
Support the organisation of planning meetings with ward focal persons to review past performance and identify critical issues and best practices. Minutes of this meeting are to be shared with the SC, copying WCO
Support LGAs / Wards in planning strategies to reach security-compromised settlements and document vaccinations conducted
Support vaccination teams to develop/ update and share quality vaccination implementation plans which include Micro planning revision and updating, Training Plans, Plans for Hard-to-reach areas, Supervisory Plans, Logistics Plans, Border synchronisation plans and social mobilisation plans
Develop a weekly activity plan to ensure adequate tracking and implementation of planned activities. Share with the SC and copy WCO every Friday of the preceding week
Manage the rapid response teams responsible for the prompt investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early response
In collaboration with the State Coordinator, ensure the planning and implementation of response plans addressing the risk of an outbreak, co-develop action plans for interventions in high-risk groups and recommend measures for special attention
Vaccine Logistics availability and stock balance update, Work plans and Itineraries
Support the tracking of the availability of vaccines to avoid stock-outs by sharing State and LGA weekly vaccine stock balances with the SC copy WCO
Support monitoring cold chain equipment, inventory management and vaccine forecasting to ensure last-mile vaccine availability
Monitor proper COVID-19 vaccination waste management
Support the development of vaccine requirements and distribution plans based on microprograms and coverage data from each LGA/ward.
Support the development of logistics plans, including distribution plans for data tools and storage capacities for all sites.
Support the States/LGA cold chain officer to conduct cold chain inventory and report gaps.
Liaise with State/LGA teams and ward focal persons in planning and implementation of waste management plans to ensure proper disposal of COVID-19 vaccination waste
Prepare quarterly State and LGA-integrated COVID-19 vaccination activity work plans in the standard format and submit them to the SC.
Develop a monthly itinerary prioritising visits to poor-performing LGAs and Wards, monitoring fixed vaccination posts, mobile teams, under-served communities and hard-to-reach. This should be submitted to the SC/WCO by the 5th day of the preceding month
Conduct Close Supportive supervision, Feedback & corrective action, including Financial Management
Ensure no commitment is made to partners and State / Zone counterparts before clearance from the State coordinator is obtained
Support in monitoring the implementation of vaccination payment by random verification of personnel payment and provide feedback to the Administration focal point and SC
Prepare monthly supportive supervisory plans and reports to LGAs and wards, prioritising poor-performing ones
Conduct at least four (4) supportive supervisory visits to the LGAs prioritising the low performing (documented using the ODK) and visit at least 12 vaccination sites (Fixed and mobile) monthly.
Support the planning and conduct of the State and LGA monthly meetings in consultation with the SC, SIO, LIO and the State/LGA team and share minutes/reports.
Supervise and monitor the quality of integrated COVID-19 vaccination in the state
Support State and LGA to prepare monthly feedback and share with stakeholders (including Political and traditional) on COVID-19 integrated vaccination performance.
Document best practices, scale up in other words, and share with SC copy to WCO
Support the information systems and the monitoring facilitating integration with national health information systems, as required
Perform other related duties with support from the State Coordinator and WCO EPR team, as assigned and give feedback to the Ministry of Health
Key Performance Indicators
Coordination of Integrated COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Routine Immunisation, Non-Polio Supplemental Immunisation (NPSIAs) Activities and Other Primary Health Care Services
Number of Pre- and intra-campaign checklists (ODK) submitted
Number of weekly/monthly COVID-19 coordination meetings planned and attended
Work Plan:
Quarterly State and LGA-integrated COVID-19 vaccination work-plans
Monthly itineraries
Weekly activity plans
Vaccine availability and stock balance update
Monthly Vaccine availability and stock balance
Weekly stock balance
Advocacy and Community sensitisation meetings
Number of advocacy visits planned and conducted
Number of community sensitisation meetings planned and conducted segregated groups (including priority populations – IDPs, migrant and nomadic populations, Health Care Workers, and people with co-morbidities)
Training and Supportive Supervision
Number of trainings conducted
Number of Health Workers trained by categories
Number of supportive supervisory visits conducted to LGAS and vaccination sites
Monthly reports on training and supportive supervisory visits conducted
Recruitment Profile
WHO Competencies:
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Building and promoting partnerships across the organisation and beyond
Knowing and managing yourself
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Use of Language and Skills:
Expert knowledge of English language
Essential knowledge and the skills specific to the position:
Strong technical skills in managing outbreaks
Demonstrated skills in and knowledge of the rapid response operations and their implementation in emergencies as related to the cholera outbreak, complemented by demonstrated ability to identify and manage difficult situations
Proven skills in managing multidisciplinary and multinational staff
Comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, methods and techniques of public health, communicable diseases, and health service delivery
Excellent writing skills (rich experience in proposal writing)
Education Qualifications:
*Essential
First-level university degree in medicine, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, pharmacy, public health planning and administration, complemented by training in a health-related field from an accredited/recognised institution
*Desirable
Specialist training in the prevention and management of cholera outbreaks and emergency management; specific training in humanitarian response, Training on epidemiology and outbreak investigation will be an asset
Experience
*Essential
At least two (2) years of related experience at the LGA and State level in health operations with proven experience in managing outbreaks and health emergencies with a specific focus on cholera or COVID-19 response strategy, risk assessment, an ongoing analysis of outbreak evolution and the effectiveness of the response to it
*Desirable
Related experience in the development of strategies and action plans within the WHO
Experience working in relevant UN agencies, NGO partners or humanitarian organisation
Experience in areas of outbreak investigation and response for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, particularly at the LGA level
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