Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international medical humanitarian organisation that delivers emergency aid in more than 60 countries to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural or man-made disasters or exclusion from healthcare.
Epidemiologist
Job No.: MS059
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State (with frequent visit to projects i.e Pulka, Gwoza & Damaturu (75% in projects)
Main Objective of the Position
- Carry out investigation, implement assessment and epidemiological surveillance systems/monitoring (if needed) according to MSF protocols in order to contribute to appropriate evidence-based decision making using well managed health data in outbreak and emergency MSF programs.
Accountability
- Carry out key epidemiological activities in outbreak investigation (description including time, place, people with emphasis on mapping when it is needed) and advise on the operational response
- Supervise epidemiological activities in community-based surveillance (mortality, malnutrition),in outbreak investigations (description including person, place and time with emphasis on mapping when needed) and advise on operational response.
- Monitor data quality in the data collection tools used through follow up with appropriate staff on missing, erroneous and duplicate data, correcting data errors in a timely manner, and liaising with staff to ensure data integrity is maintained.
- Develop and maintain community-based and hospital-based surveillance systems to monitor health status of beneficiaries.
- Monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases.
- Guide activities of medical staff and community staff for surveillance and/or active case finding, including ensuring understanding of the need for consistent case definitions and data recording (briefing of all new staff).
- Develop and maintain accurate and high quality data systems/databases.
- Performs quantitative data analysis using descriptive, statistical and spatial methodologies and computerized statistical software,
- Prepare regular written reports on progress and findings for medical coordinator, and when appropriate to external collaborators/networks (MoH, other NGOs).
- Conduct initial assessments (for emergency situations), rapid health assessments and (baseline or follow-up) surveys to inform appropriate response.
- Where standard protocols are not available or appropriate, develop a protocol seeking extensive feedback and pilot testing of robust tools to ensure the objectives will be met with support of HQ epidemiologist.
- Prepare / adapt routine documentation (survey forms, training materials, letters of request/notification, locally appropriate consent forms etc) with support of HQ epidemiologist.
- Prepare an appropriate sampling frame and sample selection guidelines with support of HQ epidemiologist
- Hire, train and supervise survey staff, including ensuring staff exhibit required skills after training and pilot test.
- Analyze results and report on findings
- Manage data systems and ensure accurate, high quality databases
- Analyze results and report on findings
- Implement/maintain relevant epidemiological surveillance systems/monitoring
- Provide training sessions to medical teams on relevant aspects of epidemiology to enhance team response capacity.
- Follow up, monitor and provide result interpretation of community-based nutrition and mortality surveillance system in the projects where implemented.
- Support implementation of remote surveillance system in Jakusko.
- Follow up on reported cases of communicable diseases and conduct analysis of the data to support early detection and to help inform appropriate response.
- Monitor epidemiological trends of relevant outbreak-prone diseases (e.g. meningitis, measles, cholera etc), and provide appropriate technical advice and support to the PMRs .
- Follow up and harmonize project’s Health Information System (HMIS) and support analysis of this data.
- Ensure timely reporting for monthly and quarterly indicators.
- Support and manage surveillance data tools when requested Provide technical support to field team in building capacity regarding surveillance for meningitis outbreak preparedness.
- Update the medical dashboard to support programme improvement, and sharing with the medical coordinator on a weekly basis.
- Ensure external data management tools (e.g MOH, Nut 5W cluster) are updated with weekly and monthly data for external sharing purposes.
- Ensure regular reporting on progress, challenges and findings at medical meetings or coordination meetings if applicable.
- Support emergency team on analysis of the data during/after exploratory missions if relevant.
- Participate in relevant team, inter-sectional and inter-agency/ governmental meetings if requested by medical coordinator
- Design/develop protocols of epidemiological study, carry out epidemiological study and publish results in norms with studies internal regulations.
- Being flexible to any other task to be carried out asked by the supervisor according to the mission need.
MSF Section/Context Specific Accountabilities:
- 50% of the time in the the projects: Damaturu, Gwoza, Maiduguri and Pulka
- Monthly reports to Logco registering all the activities, problems, soutions proposed and plans for following month
- Responsible of updating monthly IT material inventory, location, passwords and status
- Responsible of configuring computers and printers according to MSF standards and programmes
Requirements
Education:
- Medical Doctor (preferable), Nurse or Biomedical background with a Degree in Epidemiology.
Experience:
- At least 2 years of tropical medicine experience (having assumed coordination position is a plus).
- Experience in field epidemiology
Languages:
- Mission working language essential (English), local language a plus (Hausa).
- Knowledge Use of epidemiology related analytical software (excel, Epi-info, STATA or SPSS).
Competencies:
- Commitment to MSF’s Principles
- Cross-cultural Awareness
- Behavioral Flexibility
- Stress Management
- Results and Quality Orientation
- Service Orientation
- Initiative and Innovation
- Teamwork and Cooperation
Other Required skills:
- Organization and planning skills, initiative and proactive.
- Committed to humanitarian principles.
- Due to the nature of MSF operations, flexibility is indispensable and unavoidable.
- Committed to humanitarian principles.
- Sensitive and respectful of religious and cultural differences
- Identification with Humanitarian, Cross Cultural Awareness, Self-Control, Quality and Results Orientation, Commment, Stress Management.
Salary
- As per the MSF salary scale (national contract).
Method of Application
Applicants should send their CV’s and Motivation Letters either by email to: [email protected]
Or
In person to:
MSF Spain Office,
Plot 394, Etang O. Obuli Street,
Off Idris Ibrahim Crescent,
Jabi-Abuja.
Or
To any MSF Spain Base in Maiduguri, Gwoza, Pulka – Borno and Damaturu – Yobe States.
Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
More Information
- Job City Borno
