| Industry: |
N.G.O./Social Services |
| Functional Area: |
Health & Medicine |
| Total Position: |
1 |
| Job Type: |
Contract ( firstshift )
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| Job Location: |
Thatta, Pakistan |
| Gender: |
Doesn't Matter |
| Minimum Education: |
MBBS/D Pharm/BDS |
| Degree Title: |
MBBS, MPH |
| Career Level: |
Manager |
| Minimum Experience: |
7 Years (experience of medical supervision, M&E, epidemiological analysis, managing humanitarian health programmes at district or provincial level) |
| Apply By: |
Sep 5, 2012 |
| Job Posting Date: |
Aug 29, 2012 |
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| Job Description: |
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Responsible to:
Programme Manager, Sindh, with technical line management to the Deputy Country Health Director, Islamabad
Responsible for:
Nutrition Coordinator, Senior Project Officer Malaria and technical line management of 2 districts Project Health Coordinators
Location: Hyderabad, Sindh (with frequent traveling to project sites in the province as well as to and from Islamabad as required)
Contract Duration: 6 months
Merlin International Profile
Merlin specializes in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild shattered health services. Each year, Merlin helps more than 15 million people in up to 20 countries.
Context and Background
Merlin has been operational in Pakistan since 2005, providing life saving activities for the most vulnerable communities in Kashmir, Baluchistan, FATA and KPK Provinces. Merlin first became operational in Pakistan following the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, and has since responded to a number of emergencies including the Yemyin Cyclone in 2007 and Ziarat quake in 2008 in Baluchistan, and the IDP crisis from 2009 onwards, affecting various districts of KPK. Since 2008Merlin has also been implementing a large-scale development project focusing on malaria control in Baluchistan, FATA and KPK, this has included acting as the procurement agent for Global Fund partners in Pakistan. Merlin is a major health player in Pakistan, working in close coordination and collaboration with all involved stakeholders. Merlins main objective in Pakistan has been to improve the health status of the population most affected by natural disasters, diseases and conflict. Merlin is committed to longer-term programming in Pakistan and plans to continue to operate to meet the health needs of the Pakistani population.In response to the July monsoon flooding disaster and subsequent health crisis, Merlin mobilized health and medical teams to lead a rapid emergency response to meet escalating health needs of flood-affected and displaced communities. Merlin has continued its regular programmes and extended coverage to communities affected by the flood; currently reaching approximately2,000,000 people through the provision of essential health services, community management of malnutrition and communicable disease surveillance and management. Merlin is currently operating in Swat, Buner, Nowshera, and Charsadda districts in KPK province and Muzaffargarh in Punjab province. Merlins model of care is based on the provision of an integrated package of health and nutrition services via static and mobile outreach services (currently supporting a total of 38 static health facilities and 26 mobile clinics). Merlin also currently supports seven diarrhea treatment units across all operational districts. Merlin has expanded its malaria control operations to six flood affected districts in Baluchistan and KPK provinces. This has been done through the initiation of malaria case management, surveillance and outbreak response in disease endemic parts of the country in partnership with the provincial malaria directorate. Merlins malaria programs are therefore now reaching a total of 11 million people across 16 districts in KPK, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Baluchistan. Merlin works closely with the Ministry of Health,Health and Nutrition Clusters and Department of Malaria Control, to ensure close coordination and collaboration with all involved stakeholders.Merlin is currently planning to expand their emergency response, by implementing activities in Sindh Province, in the South of Pakistan. The planned intervention will be operating in two districts Dadu and Thatta, implementing an integrated health and nutrition response for flood affected populations. The provincial office will be based in Hyderabad, and there will also be two district based offices, from which mobile and static health facility support will be coordinated. In order to quickly scale up activities in this new province, Merlin is currently seeking strong candidates with emergency experience to support them in their work.
Sindh Problem statement
The overall level of damage as a result of the flooding is thus significant throughout the province.There are stretches of serious flood impact along the length of the main Indus Valley. However, the most significant and widespread damage has been caused by multiple levee failures which caused the inundation of huge areas to the West of the main Indus Valley. Currently vast majority of previously displaced people have returned to their origin location. ..In summary, health assessments found there was initially relatively little coverage by international actors in Southern Sindh. Essential gaps remain; in Thatta in all essential services and in Dadu in primary health care in certain areas, nutrition and reproductive health, and in primary health care and malaria.Main morbidity is from ARI, diarrhea, malaria and skin infections. Diarrhea incidence is now decreasing, however, there is no water provision in communities that people are returning to and no household chlorination, water provision having been provided for displaced camps, meaning an increased risk of outbreaks of diarrhea when people return home.Malaria incidence is increasing. Falciparum and Vivax are both endemic in all flood affected areas in Sindh, with peaks in incidence in falciparum and vivax malaria between September and November and vivax malaria again in April and May. Prior to the floods, measles coverage was estimated at approximately 43%, UNICEF is supporting a vaccination campaign, no coverage results to date.There are no comprehensive emergency obstetric services at tehsil level, only at district level, in Thatta, DoH services are supported by UNFPA. In both districts, 80% of births are at home without a skilled birth attendant but this was also the situation prior to the flood.The poor nutrition situation prior to the floods has been aggravated by damage to crops, increased food prices, lack of available food, and a higher burden of disease. Nutritional services are limited or unavailable to the flood-affected populations. Anecdotal reports from agencies working in Southern Sindh suggest malnutrition rates of 10 12% moderate malnutrition and 1% severe, but this situation could deteriorate given current food security and public health threats.Merlin propose to support 33 static and eight mobile health centers in two districts in Southern Sindh Thatta and Dadu. This was a huge undertaking for Merlin to move to a new province with emergency needs of this scale while continuing to manage a large scale up of previous programming. For this reason Merlin have hire a provincial team to support the set of two district offices. This team consist of a provincial programme manager, senior health coordinator, nutrition coordinator, logistician, finance and admin officer.The provincial senior health coordinator will be responsible for health representation at provincial level while over viewing nutrition and malaria activities in coordination with the national technical supervision of two district project medical coordinators for Thatta and Dadu districts.
Main Purpose of the Role
This role is responsible for implementation, monitoring & evaluation of technical and medical aspects of Merlin activities in Sindh Province.
Specific Responsibilities Technical Project Management
Co-ordination of all health activity start up within the project areas:- Health staff recruitment district health coordinators and other key health staff with the district health coordinator and district nutrition coordinators.
- Protocols and guidelines in place.
- Monitoring and evaluation systems in place.
- Agreement with WHO for drugs and equipment.
- Drug and equipment orders completed and distribution plan with logistics.
- Health promotion strategy and health promotion kits (hygiene, blankets, neonatal, clean delivery) IEC materials ordered.
- Watsan and waste management orders in place and activities mapped out.
- Key agreements made with district UN and INGO partners in coordination with national Nutrition Coordinator and provincial Project Manager, MoU with provincial and district authorities, WHO
- Ensure that PHC and communicable disease control activities are implemented in accordance with MoH policy and internationally recognized standards.
- Working with the Islamabad health and nutrition team and PM to develop the health and nutrition activity and monitoring plan. Ensure project indicators and goals are achieved and reported on.
- Conduct the full oversight for implementation of the project health activities, nutrition activities, and malaria activities in coordination with the nutrition and malaria teams,including changes of project direction or priorities in collaboration with the Deputy Country Health Director and Country Director.
- Be responsible for stock control consistent with Merlin protocols and procedures. Ensure that the medical stocks are sufficient and the drugs are stored and used correctly including emergency preparedness stocks.
- Assist in development of new health protocols and data collection forms and ensure their dissemination and implementation. Ensure the medical team is fully conversant with and trained in use of medical protocols.
- Ensure that Merlin/MoH and WHO protocols are followed in supported sites.
- Prepare and submit reports and work plans on regular basis.
- Assist in the establishment of further health facilities under the direction of the Deputy Country Health Director.
- Constant assessment of the health needs of the community and guiding of activities to prioritize the same.
- Support the district health coordinators to strengthen referral services between communities and primary and secondary health facilities
Supervision
- Provide technical and management support to the district project medical coordinators.
- Provide management support to provincial nutrition coordinator and senior project officer malaria.
- Develop and supervise links and support integration of the nutrition, health and malaria control program interventions across the field sites.
- Co-ordination with nutrition coordinator.
- Co-ordination with malaria technical advisor to ensure close links with programme.
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Support to the district health coordinators ongoing assessment of the medical needs of the community and guiding of activities to respond to their needs.
- Review and finalize district monthly project reports including data analysis, for inclusion in the monthly situation report.
- Ensure that the Deputy Country Health Director receives regular activity reports and statistics.
- To be responsible for ensuring that notifiable diseases and outbreaks are reported to the WHO and MOH and DCHD.
Human Resources
- Responsible for training of all health staff to ensure the maximum use of their skills and their full and effective participation while conforming to Merlin and MOH standards.
- Recruitment (in conjunction with PM or Islamabad HR/CMT) and supervision of Merlin national health staff as requested by need and accordingly with the available fund,designation of responsibilities.
- Recruitment and supervision of health staff and designation of responsibilities.
- Responsible for ensuring that all the health staff especially health officers within the project area are aware of medical evacuation procedures and conduct general monitoring of staff welfare with the Country Health Director.
- Responsible for national staff health within the project areas including first aid provisions,medical evacuation and general monitoring of staff welfare with the Country Health Director.
- To be responsible for ensuring the national project health staffs are working according to their job descriptions.
Representation & Coordination
- Co-ordination and representation with the MOH, PDMA, NGOs, UN and other key representatives at provincial level.
- Identify other needs of targeted communities (water supply, sanitation and health education etc.) prepare reports and, at the request of DCHD and provincial PM, coordinate with all stakeholders to address these needs.
- Promote correspondence between teams in the different field sites through regular phone calls and coordination meetings.
Other
- Be prepared to undertake other tasks as requested by the Deputy Country Health Director and or Provincial Programme Manager.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications, experience and competences
- Qualified doctor and MPH.
- Extensive experience in primary health care including community management of acutemal nutrition
- Strong experience of managing humanitarian health programmes at district or provincial level
- Previous experience of medical supervision and M&E
- Strong community and outreach experience
- Experience in epidemiological analysis
- Excellent management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of Merlin national staff
- Ability to cope well under stressful conditions
- Ability to remain calm and to be diplomatic
- Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with MOH representatives
- Ability to travel to all field sites and to offer close supervisory support to both expatriate and national Merlin health staff
- Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English
- Good computer skills Microsoft Office
- Commitment to Merlins values
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
- Ability to use data analysis software including Excel and EPI Info Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organization.
- Knowledge and experience of trauma healthcare
- Knowledge of geography and rural areas of project district.
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| Skills Required: |
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Essential
Qualifications, experience and competences
Medical Doctor with public health experience
Diploma in Hygiene and Tropical Medicine or Public Health
Strong experience of overseas work within a humanitarian organization
Experience of and ability to work in complex emergency.
Good knowledge and experience of running primary health care projects e.g. vaccination campaigns, response to disease outbreak, mobile clinics e.t.c in developing countries
Competence in basic epidemiological analysis and knowledge of data collection methods and data analysis skills
Strong coordination and problem solving skills in day to day and challenging situations
Excellent team working and relationship building skills with the ability to develop positive working relations across functions and cultures
Flexible approach and willingness to work and manage a team with a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines
Strong experience in managing a team of health professionals and working in a cross cultural context
Willingness to travel at short notice to remote and insecure locations
Good communication skills, with good written and spoken English
Significant experience of representation to a broad range of people and organizations
Confident and proficient user of MS Office
Experience of proactively identifying and addressing issues
Understanding of security issues with the ability to live and work in remote, insecure environments.
Commitment to Merlin's values and aims
Desirable
Qualifications, experience and competences
Previous working experience in the region
Knowledge of a local language
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