Health and Nutrition Officer 8 views0 applications

Médecins du Monde (MdM) France is an international non-governmental organisation involved in humanitarian interventions and has operated in Ethiopia since 1986, supporting health services from longer-term programming to emergency response. Under the EHF project in Afar Region, the Health and Nutrition Officer will support the delivery and quality of essential health and nutrition services through supported health centres and outreach activities in Afambo or Amibara Woreda. The post-holder will work in coordination with the Medical Supervisor, health-facility teams, local health authorities and other relevant actors, in line with Ministry of Health (MoH) guidance and MdM protocols.

The role is field based. During a major humanitarian emergency, the post-holder may be required to adapt duties, location and working hours to meet urgent programme needs.

• Position:                                                     Health and Nutrition Officer
• Duty Station:                                            Afambo or Amibara, Afar
• Status:                                                         Salaried
• Functional Supervision:                        Medical Supervisor
• Contract Duration:                                   Until Oct 14, 2027

1. Overall purpose of the position

To support the provision of safe, accessible, dignified and quality essential health and nutrition services for affected communities in the EHF project area. The post-holder will provide and/or supervise clinical care within their professional scope, support the identification and management of malnutrition, ensure appropriate referral and follow-up, strengthen the capacity of facility and outreach staff, and maintain accurate records and timely reporting in accordance with MoH and MdM standards.

1. Key duties and responsibilities

3.1 Health service delivery and clinical quality

• Provide quality curative and preventive health services during outpatient consultations and participate in inpatient review in collaboration with the facility medical officer, where available and appropriate to professional scope.
• Assess, diagnose, manage and follow up patients in accordance with MoH and relevant WHO guidance, MdM protocols and professional scope of practice.
• Provide initial emergency care and stabilisation, identify danger signs and arrange timely referral for patients requiring secondary or tertiary care.
• Promote respectful, patient-centred care, including clear communication and appropriate emotional support to patients and family members.
• Apply infection prevention and control (IPC) measures consistently and promote safe clinical practices and rational prescribing.
• Support early identification, notification and reporting of suspected outbreaks through the appropriate surveillance channels, including EWARS, and inform the Medical Supervisor and relevant authorities according to protocol.

3.2 Nutrition service delivery and programme support

• Support the delivery of nutrition services through supported health facilities and mobile/outreach activities, in accordance with national nutrition protocols and MdM procedures.
• Conduct or support nutrition screening and assessment for children and other target groups using approved tools and criteria, including MUAC, weight, height/length and oedema checks where applicable and within training.
• Identify and refer children and other clients with suspected acute malnutrition or nutrition-related complications for assessment and appropriate management; ensure follow-up of referrals.
• Support implementation and monitoring of the relevant acute malnutrition services available in the project area, including outpatient therapeutic care and supplementary feeding services where these are part of the project package.
• Promote appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF), breastfeeding, maternal and child nutrition, and key household nutrition practices through individual counselling, group sessions and community outreach.
• Support nutrition screening during outreach and integrated health activities, and help ensure that vulnerable clients are not missed, including through coordination with community health workers and facility staff.
• Monitor the availability and appropriate use of nutrition supplies, anthropometric equipment, therapeutic and supplementary nutrition products, and related recording tools; promptly report shortages, wastage or quality concerns.
• Maintain complete nutrition registers, screening and treatment records, referral records and follow-up information; compile routine nutrition data and report service gaps, trends and urgent concerns to the Medical Supervisor.
• Support nutrition awareness and community mobilisation activities, ensuring messages are culturally appropriate and adapted to the local context.

3.3 Supervision, coordination and capacity-building

• Support day-to-day supervision of health and nutrition service delivery at supported facilities and during MdM outreach/mobile activities.
• Monitor adherence to MoH and MdM clinical and nutrition protocols, patient safety standards, confidentiality and dignified care; identify gaps and agree corrective actions with the Medical Supervisor and facility management.
• Provide on-the-job coaching, mentorship and practical support to health and nutrition staff on clinical quality, nutrition screening and referral, IPC, rational use of medicines and accurate documentation.
• Coordinate with health-facility administration and management, Woreda health offices, relevant MoH structures and other service providers to support continuity of care and avoid duplication.
• Participate in coordination meetings, supportive supervision visits and programme reviews as requested; share operational issues and recommendations in a timely manner.
• Support appropriate task allocation and teamwork among facility and outreach staff, in coordination with the Medical Supervisor and facility leadership.

3.4 Referral, monitoring, documentation and reporting

• Use agreed referral pathways and ensured referrals are timely, safe, documented and followed up, including referrals for emergency, complicated medical and nutrition cases.
• Ensure patient consultations and health and nutrition activities are accurately recorded using approved registers, forms and reporting tools while maintaining confidentiality.
• Compile and submit timely, complete and accurate activity statistics and narrative updates for health, nutrition, outreach and referral activities.
• Review routine data for completeness, consistency and unusual trends; flag data-quality issues and service-delivery concerns to the Medical Supervisor.
• Support monitoring of agreed project indicators and activity plans, participate in data reviews and contribute to reports, lessons learned and action plans.
• Maintain confidentiality and secure handling of patient information and ensure that data are shared only with authorised persons for legitimate programme purposes.

3.5 Medicines, equipment and resource management

• Monitor the rational use, storage and distribution of medicines, medical consumables, nutrition supplies and equipment provided to supported services.
• Check stock levels and expiry dates, maintain accurate stock and consumption records as assigned, and report anticipated shortages, overstocking, losses or damaged items promptly.
• Promote appropriate prescribing and use of medicines and nutrition products in line with approved protocols; support staff mentorship on rational use when required.
• Ensure medical, nutrition and anthropometric equipment is used safely, cleaned and maintained appropriately, and report faults or replacement needs.

Support accountability for project resources and ensure supplies are used for their intended programme purpose.

• Bachelor’s degree in public health or nursing, or another relevant health qualification accepted by MdM for the role.
• At least three years of relevant experience in health and nutrition services in a clinical setting; experience in humanitarian or emergency settings is an advantage.
• Experience providing or supporting outpatient care, referral and follow-up, health-facility or outreach activities, and routine health documentation.
• Working knowledge of nutrition screening, identification and referral of acute malnutrition, nutrition counselling and routine nutrition reporting.
• Experience using Microsoft Word and Excel and maintaining accurate service data and records.
• Knowledge of Ethiopia’s health system and MoH service-delivery protocols.

1. Desirable qualifications and competencies

• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health (MPH) and/or project management training is an asset.
• Training or practical experience in community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), IYCF, nutrition screening, IPC, emergency care or surveillance is an advantage.
• Knowledge of the Afar context and ability to communicate in the relevant local language(s).
• Strong organisation, prioritisation and problem-solving skills, including the ability to work autonomously in day-to-day field operations and respond to changing emergency needs.
• Good communication, teamwork, mentoring and coordination skills.
• Respectful behaviour, empathy, cultural sensitivity, leadership potential and commitment to quality of care.
• Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

1. Professional conduct and safeguarding

• Comply with MdM’s code of conduct, policies, procedures and humanitarian principles, and with applicable MoH standards and professional ethics.
• Treat all patients and community members with dignity, respect and without discrimination; protect privacy and confidentiality and obtain informed consent as appropriate.
• Maintain professional boundaries and contribute to a safe environment for patients, community members, colleagues and partners.
• Comply with safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (PSEAH), child safeguarding and anti-fraud requirements; report concerns through the established channels.
• Do not engage in exploitation, abuse, harassment, discrimination or any exchange of assistance for money, services or favours.
• Use project resources responsibly and disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest in line with MdM policy.

1. Performance and accountability

• Performance will be assessed by the Medical Supervisor through regular supervision and review of agreed objectives. Key areas of accountability include:
• Quality, safety and timeliness of health and nutrition services delivered or supported, in line with approved protocols.
• Appropriate screening, identification, referral and follow-up of clients with medical or nutrition needs.
• Quality and timeliness of clinical and nutrition records, activity statistics and reports.
• Compliance with IPC, patient confidentiality, safeguarding and professional conduct requirements.
• Effective supervision, coordination and capacity-building support for facility and outreach staff.
• Responsible management and timely reporting of medicine, nutrition supply and equipment needs.
• Constructive collaboration with MdM colleagues, facility teams, local health authorities and communities.