Infectious Diseases Volunteer – King’s Sierra Leone Partnership | (Funded) 58 views0 applications

The King’s Sierra Leone Partnership (KSLP) is a long-term capacity building partnership between King’s Health Partners in London and key partner institutions in Sierra Leone. KSLP aims to help strengthen Sierra Leone’s health system by improving training, clinical services, policy and research. Key partners include University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospitals Complex Connaught Hospital (USLTHC), the College of Medicine & Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) and the Ministry of Health & Sanitation (MOHS).

During the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, KSLP played a critical role in the response in Sierra Leone with the establishment and supervision of Holding Units for suspected cases of EVD, training of Health Care Workers and contributing in the Case Management pillar at the National Ebola Response Centre (NERC). As Sierra Leone moves in to the recovery phase, KSLP is helping support postgraduate medical training in Sierra Leone, based at the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex, of which Connaught Hospital is the principal site.

The Role

KSLP is looking to recruit a Volunteer Infectious Diseases Doctor for its in-country team as soon as possible. This person will be based in Freetown and will have a critical role in supporting the infectious Diseases Coordinator in the ID Unit.

The role’s main responsibilities will include:

• Participate in the daily work of managing Infectious Diseases at Connaught, including management of HIV, TB and others which may need special medical care and participate in the on-call rota for the ID Unit at Connaught
• Mentoring and training House officers and Medical officer on HIV/AIDS, TB, and other prevalent infectious diseases by demonstrating and teaching practical skills in the wards and in the ID Unit and facilitating the elaboration and implementation of the new guidelines;
• Teaching final year medical students (from COMAHS) at the bedside, in the clinical skills laboratory and seminars;
• Attending meetings with the National Programmes of HIV and TB and at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) as a Clinical and Technical Infectious diseases advisor;
• Take part in meetings of the Internal Medicine department developing protocols for infectious diseases at Connaught; Conduct medical research in collaboration with local colleagues with the aim of capacity building as part of the medical postgraduate training.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: A medical degree. Professional registration in home country.
• Experience: At least 4 years working experience. ≥ 6 months working in infectious diseases. A background of teaching and training of undergraduates and post-graduates.
• Personal Characteristics: Excellent interpersonal and intercultural skills, as well as confidence working within a multicultural team and with senior staff from partner institutions; skilled at multitasking and prioritising, working independently with minimal supervision, and leading and designing projects autonomously; an appreciation of the philosophy behind a long-term co-development health partnership.

It would be advantageous if the candidate had:

• An educational qualification or diploma in tropical medicine (or equivalent)
• More than 6 months’ experience of work experience within Africa
• A keen interest in health and education systems strengthening, audit and quality improvement and research

Support Provided to Volunteers

This is a 12-month unpaid voluntary position but the post holder will be provided with:

• Return flights to and from initial post, plus two paid leave flights to and from Freetown
• £500 monthly stipend for living expenses, paid in local currency
• Multi-entry visa, residency permit & professional registration
• Vaccinations & antimalarials
• Insurance Accommodation in a shared KSLP house