Surveillance and SIA Officer at World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 7 months

Job Posting

: May 18, 2023, 9:09:28 AM

Closing Date

: Jun 7, 2023, 11:59:00 PM

Primary Location

: Malawi

Organization

: AF_MWI Malawi

Schedule

: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

Background

Under the direct supervision of the EPI/Polio Programme Team Leader under the UHC/ULC Cluster in the WHO Country Office, the consultant will provide technical support towards the goals of polio eradication and outbreak response. The consultant will support improving quality of supplementary immunization activities (SIA), active surveillance for wild or vaccine related poliovirus, strengthen routine immunization services;  to rapidly detect and interrupt any new outbreaks due to wild or vaccine-derived polioviruses. The consultant will perform the required duties within the framework of WHO program and policy documents.

Deliverables

1. Provide technical guidance for coordination and rapid response framework at the district level to rapidly interrupt any polio outbreak.
2. Conduct gap analysis to identify constraints to overall outbreak response and support the development of plans of action to address these gaps
3. Support implementation of high quality Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA), including update of micro-plans, training, supervision and evaluation with IM and LQAS. Ensuring high risk populations and vulnerable groups are reached.
4. Promote activities to enhance Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance at facility, community levels and cross-border areas, including rapid surveillance assessments, prioritization of surveillance sites, development of surveillance action plans, use of electronic surveillance (eSURV) tools, evaluation of the impact of these plans, and training/orientation of health workers, surveillance/ immunization officers and supervisors.
5. Support surveillance and SIA data analysis and use at the district level, including preparation and dissemination of situation updates.
6. Identify training needs, evaluate and document outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices.
7. Provide technical guidance to strengthen routine immunization systems at the district level.
8. Strengthening vaccine safety surveillance by participating in the detection and reporting of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) and strengthen district investigation teams in carrying out serious AEFIs. You are advised to complete an online training on basics in vaccine safety by WHO.
9. Strengthening vaccine preventable diseases surveillance in the districts including acute flaccid paralysis, participating in community and environmental surveillance, if need be, measles and neonatal tetanus.
10. Strengthening routine immunization activities including assisting developing the health facility micro-plan, mapping, the hard-to-reach areas, reducing missed opportunity for vaccination and understanding the district logistic system.
11. Strengthening immunization monitoring and evaluation by ensuring the accurate and timely reporting of district immunization information for instance monthly coverage data. Promote district evidence-based decision by promoting data utilization at the lowest levels.
12. Participating in covid-19 vaccination acceleration plan which including full participation of the covid-19 monthly occasional periodic intensification on routine immunization.
13. Strengthening vaccine management through monitoring health facility monthly stock plan, vaccine utilization, stock outs of vaccines and other supplies, monitoring functionality of health facilities’ cold chain equipments.
14. Promoting implementation of local demand generation activities including comprehensive community engagement, rumor tracking, dealing with infordemics, vaccine hesitancy and sustain demand for all antigens.
15. Health system strengthening by participating in district supervision and mentorship programs
16. At the end of the assignment, you will be required to submit a technical report and a briefing note to the EPI/Polio Programme Team Leader in the WHO Country Office as well as Performance Evaluation document assessed against the draft deliverables.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: Degree in public health or related field.

Desirable: Masters in public health or  vaccinology or epidemiology

Experience

Essential: A minimum of two years experience in public health.

Desirable: At least two years experience in running immunization programme at district or national level, Vaccine Preventable Disease Surveillance and emergency response.

Skills/Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge of public health field work, organizing vaccination campaigns, conducting vaccine preventable disease surveillance activities, or other relevant expertise

Competencies

• Producing results
• Communication
• Overall attitude at work
• Teamwork

Languages and level required

Advanced English and local language in the area of assignment.