Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) at the International Medical Corps

Location: Damboa, Borno

Program Background

• IMC has been implementing its curative and preventive nutrition intervention in 15 OTPs of Damboa, Jere, Konduga and MMC LGAs. The curative component targets children, 6-59 months with SAM. Community health volunteers screen and refer children with a MUAC <11.5cm or WHZ < -3 or those with grade + or ++ or edema to OTP sites for treatment. SAM cases are treated at the OTP using RUTF, deworming and Vitamin supplementation.
• Children with severe acute malnutrition and medical complications or those <6 months are referred to stabilization centers. In addition, caregivers of children 6-59 months are trained on how to measure MUAC.
• If a caregiver identifies a child with SAM these are re-assessed by the CHV and if confirmed, the child is referred to the OTP. These children receive nutrition support through RUTF based on their weight, treated for infections using routine medication and screened and treated for malaria.
• The severely acutely malnourished who are 24-59 months are de-wormed. All severely acutely malnourished without edema receive routine vitamin A supplementation and zinc supplements for those that present with diarrhea, whilst those presenting with malnutrition and medical complications are to stabilization centers for specialized treatment.

Job Summary

• Under the Direct Supervision of the SC Nurse, the CHEW acts as a nurse assistant in providing patients’ health care in collaboration other health team members in the facility.
• S/he assists the nurse and the rest of the medical team on duty with general nursing activities and over-all patient care according to international/national protocol and the given instructions under strict supervision/monitoring of a nurse.
• S/he follows IMC protocols and standards to ensure Quality and continuity of care, promotion and restoration of health of patients and population.

Main Responsibilities

• Assess and identify patient’s health needs
• Support nursing staff in patient management
• Assist in Milk preparation and feeding of patients on admission
• Provide health education to caretakers on hygiene, nutrition, warning signs, immunization
• Provide essential preventative assistance services and follow up on identified beneficiaries with Non Communicable Diseases and other diseases/morbidities of Public Health relevance.
• Attends to patients according to their medical needs based on the severity of their illness
• Ensure anthropometric measurements (MUAC, weight, height) are done properly and recorded accurately as required (aside from the common vital signs)
• Perform any clinical tasks, as required, within the scope of training, supervised by the duty nurse
• Assist with setting up of equipment and materials as required
• Inform nurse in-charge of any incident or concerns regarding patient status
• Ensure proper assistance of patients with personal hygiene
• Follows hygiene and safety protocols at all times ensuring the cleanliness and tidiness of all facilities, material, linen, equipment, and carrying out the sorting and waste disposal.
• Ensures good transfer and follow up of beneficiaries after discharge.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps.
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time by supervisors

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout International Medical Corps. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• Nigerian health care qualification or Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) qualified under the Nigerian health care legislation
• Minimum of 1 year of experience as nursing assistant/ nursing aid. Work experience with other NGO’s would be an asset.
• Valid and current practicing license.
• Good in written and spoken English. Fluent in Kanuri, Marghi and Hausa
• Commitment to and understanding of IMC’s aims, values and principles.

Key Competencies:

• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver IMC’s strategic objectives.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations