National Consultants at The World Health Organization (WHO)

Ref Id: 1704251
Grade: NO-B
Contractual Arrangement: Individual Service Contractor
Contract duration: 6 Months
Schedule: Full-time

Purpose of the Position

• In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies program, the incumbent will implement and coordinate WHO’s support to government through development of strategies for the monitoring and implementation of public health surveillance and response programmes with special focus on early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health incidents related to the health emergencies.
• The incumbent will provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health and other partners in strengthening preparedness, surveillance and emergency response for priority diseases, conditions and events in the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and for capacity building of national experts, to strengthen the countries International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities.

Description of Duties
The incumbent will work in close collaboration with relevant technical officers at the national level, will coordinate the work and provide technical guidance to the ministries of health at national and state levels and will carryout the following duties:

• Support the Ministry of Health/NCDC to develop comprehensive and integrated policies and strategies for International Health Regulations(IHR) and Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response(IDSR)
• 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 planning and implementation of IHR internal evaluation and Joint External Evaluation including development of action plan
• Coordinate and manage surveillance technical activities, within the context of the outbreak and health emergencies programme at the national and state levels
• Strengthen the capacities of surveillance teams for the effective and sustained surveillance of epidemic prone diseases through detection, data management, and rapid response to epidemics and health outbreaks.
• Provide technical guidance for the management of a unified information system to ensure availability of core data country files and other information on related technical areas such as: case incidence; case management surveillance data; laboratory surveillance data; contact tracing, etc.;
• Analyse, systematize, and disseminate scientific and evidence-based technical information and knowledge; support the development of the WHO Situation Reports, other related regular and adhoc surveillance reports
• Manage the timely collection, analyses, production and dissemination of data/information.
• Support documentation and publication of health security and emergencies interventions
• Support resource mobilization
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisors.

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Medical Degree (MBBS) from a recognized University - Essential
• Masters in Public Health from a recognized University - Desirable

Experience:

• At least 5 years working experience in Health emergency preparedness and response - Essential
• Working experience in related areas with WHO, other UN agencies or other recognized international organizations - Desirable

Use of Language Skills:

• Proficiency in written and spoken English - Essential
• Working knowledge of French is an added advantage - Desirable

Specific Skills Required:

• Computer abilities such as word processing, spread-sheets; data analysis tool such as Epi-Info, SPSS, GIS and excellent report writing skills

go to method of application »

Ref Id: 1704249
Grade: NO-B
Contractual Arrangement: Individual Service Contractor
Contract duration: 6 Months
Schedule: Full-time

Purpose of the Position

• In the context of the WHO Health Emergencies program, the incumbent will implement and coordinate WHO’s support to government through development of strategies for the monitoring and implementation of public health surveillance and response programmes with special focus on early detection, verification and rapid response to epidemics and other public health incidents related to the health emergencies.
• The incumbent will provide technical guidance to the Ministry of Health and other partners in strengthening preparedness, surveillance and emergency response for priority diseases, conditions and events in the context of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and for capacity building of national experts, to strengthen the countries International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) core capacities.

Description of Duties
The incumbent will work in close collaboration with relevant technical officers at the national level, will coordinate the work and provide technical guidance to the ministries of health at national and state levels, to carryout the following duties;

• Support the NCDC to develop comprehensive strategies  and plans for outbreak preparedness and response
• Ensure the implementation of response plans addressing the risk of outbreak, co-develop action plans for interventions in high-risks groups and recommend measures for special attention.
• Monitor the early prevention, detection, verification, assessment and investigation of any risks of outbreaks and the dissemination of data related to the occurrence of outbreaks
• 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
• Support surveillance technical activities, within the context of the outbreak and health emergencies programme at the national and state levels
• Manage the rapid response teams responsible for the rapid investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early response.
• Ensure that messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation and control of risks of outbreaks
• Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of actions to be taken in affected as well as non-affected areas in order to prevent and/or control cause of excess morbidity and mortality due to outbreaks.
• Prepared comprehensive outbreak investigation and response reports.
• Support documentation and publication of health security and emergencies interventions
• Support resource mobilization
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisors. 

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Medical Degree (MB,BS) from a recognized University 
• Desirable: Master of Public Health from a recognized University

Experience:

• Essential: At least 5 years working experience in Health emergency preparedness and response.
• Desirable:Working experience in related areas with WHO, other UN agencies or other recognized international organizations

Use of language skills

• Essential: Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Desirable: Working knowledge of French an added advantage

Specific Skills Required:

• Computer abilities such as word processing, spread-sheets; data analysis tool such as Epi-Info, SPSS, GIS and excellent report writing skills.
  

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Req ID: 1704248
Grade: NO-B
Contractual Arrangement: Individual Service Contractor
Contract duration: 6 Months

Purpose of the Post

• Globally, Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are leading causes of death, killing more people than all other causes of death combined. In contrast to the popular assumption that NCDs occurs mostly in developed countries, available evidence shows that 80% of NCDs deaths occur in low and middle income countries and NCDs are the most frequent cause of death in most of these countries. According NCDs global status report 2014, NCDs were responsible for 38 million (68%) of the world’s 56 million deaths in 2012.WHO projects that, globally, NCD deaths will increase by 17% over the next ten years. 
• The greatest increase will be seen in the African region (27%) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (25%). Nigeria being the country with the highest population in Africa will also share a large proportion of this epidemic.

Description of Duties
Working under the overall leadership of the WR/Nigeria and the direct supervision of the HSE Coordinator, the National Professional Officer, Non-Communicable Diseases/Conditions (NCD) will serve as the focal person for NCDs under the Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) Cluster of the WHO Country Office in Nigeria. Specifically, the post holder will:

• Support the Ministry of Health to develop and implement comprehensive and integrated policies and strategies for the management of the main chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors: cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, oral health, chronic respiratory diseases and sickle cell diseases;
• Provide technical support for the development of guidelines to promote use of community-based approaches, affordable strategies and technologies for the delivery of quality care services including primary, secondary and tertiary prevention;
• Provide technical assistance to the country for the prevention and control of NCDs and their risk factors integrated into national health policies and strategies, and, beyond the health sector;
• Support the country capacity building and provide technical assistance and advice to the Ministry of Health and its partners to develop, implement and evaluate strategies and action plans for the prevention and control of NCDs in line with the NCDs Global Action Plan 2013-2020;
• Forge partnerships and networks to enhance multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration to address NCDs and their risk factors in the country;
• Contribute to resource mobilization for WCO technical support to the country using existing mechanisms at country level;
• Support data collection, research and information dissemination and use for policy and programme development, advocacy and awareness-raising on NCDs and their risk factors;
• Work closely with the national authorities and other partners, and liaise with WHO technical staff in the Regional Office
• Prepare technical and administrative reports and presentations as required;
• Perform any other tasks/duties as assigned by supervisors

Required Qualifications
Education:

• Essential: Medical Degree from a recognized University
• Desirable: Master of Public Health from a recognized University  .

Experience:

• Essential: At least 5 years working experience in prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and risk factors.
• Desirable:Working experience in related areas with WHO, other UN agencies or other recognized international organizations

Use of language skills:

• Essential: Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Desirable: French is an added advantage

Skills

• Specific skills required: Computer abilities such as word processing, spread-sheets; data analysis tool such as Epi-Info, SPSS and excellent report writing skills.