World Health Organization (WHO)
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 5 months
Job Posting: May 28, 2024, 8:47:44 AM
Closing Date: Jun 17, 2024, 11:59:00 PM
Primary Location: Malawi
Organization: AF_MWI Malawi
Schedule: Full-time
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 activites (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
- Provide technical guidance for coordination and rapid resonse framework at the district level to rapidly interupt any polio outbreak.
- Conduct gap analysis to identify constraints to overall outbreak response and support the development of plans of action to address these gaps
- Support implementation of high quality Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA), including update of microplans, training, supervison and evaluation with IM and LQAS. Esnuring high risk populations and vulnerable groups are reached.
- 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 sruveillance 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.
- Support surveillance and SIA data analysis and use at the district level, including preparation and dissemintation of situation updates.
- Identify training needs, evaluate and document outbreak response activities to ensure that all lessons learned are effectively incorporated into current best practices.
- Provide technical guidance to strengthen routine immunization systems at the district level.
- Strengthening vaccine safety surveillance by participating in the detection and reporting of adverse events following immunisation (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.
- 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.
- Strengthening routine immunization activities including assisting developing the health facility microplan, mapping, the hard to reach areas, reducing missed opportunity for vaccination and understanding the district logistic system.
- 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.
- Participating in covid-19 vaccination acceleration plan which including full participation of the covid-19 monthly occasional periodic intensification on routine immunization.
- 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 equipment.
- Promoting implementation of local demand generation activities including comprehensive community engagement, rumor tracking, dealing with infodemics, vaccine hesitancy and sustain demand for all antigens.
- Health system strengthening by participating in district supervision and mentorship programs
- At the end of the assignment, the consultant 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.
Educational Qualifications
Essential: Medical degree or degree in public health related field
Desirable: Postgraduate degree in public health/epidemiology/vaccinology
Experience
Essential: A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience.
Desirable: At least two years experience in immunization program/ surveillance/ outbreak response
Skills/Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of public health field work, organizing vaccination campaigns, conducting vaccine preventable disease surveillance activities, or other relevant expertise
Languages and level required
Advanced English and local language in the area of assignment.