Survailance Officer, Accra 261 views0 applications

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Purpose of the Post:

To provide technical support to National Disease Surveillance Programme to accelerate the implementation of activities to improve surveillance of vaccine preventable diseases and general IDSR at all levels. This is part of efforts to strengthen the national surveillance systems to ensure that all regions achieve the performance indicators and to sustain the gains the country has made in recent times.

Objectives of the Programme and the immediate unit or field activities

To serve as the Technical Adviser for Disease Surveillance in Ghana, under the authority of the WR with supervision and orientation from the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa regional office and as such:

• Cooperate with head of national surveillance in coordinating donor support;
• Support planning, implementation , monitoring and evaluation of VPD surveillance activities and implementation of IDSR
• Plan, organize, support and monitor implementation and report programme activities.

Organizational Context

The incumbent is the technical adviser to the WR, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service in the management of resources and funds for disease surveillance. He/She will provide technical assistance in area of planning, organizing, implanting, monitoring, and supervision as well as documentation of best practices and capacity building at the central, regional, district etc levels in the context of emerging modern technologies for disease surveillance. The incumbent will also support routine EPI and other child survival interventions and support the EPO country team.

Summary of Assigned Duties

1. Participate in developing or revising national plans of action and contribute to improving the coordination between donor agencies to ensure adequate implementation of plans;
2. Follow up on progress and constraints in the implementation of national VPD surveillance/IDSR plans in all areas and focusing on the areas targeted by grants provided by WHO and another agencies as requested and provide relevant reports to national authorities and WHO;
3. Collaborate with Partners on issues of laboratory equipment and reagents, logistics, advocacy and communication etc
4. Participate in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of capacity building plans, identify and advise on need internal and external support for specific areas.
5. Assist in monitoring progress of surveillance activities by collecting and analysing data from districts and using them at national, regional and district levels;
6. Participate in the identification and planning of operational research activities supportive of boosting routine coverage as well as in the evaluation of their implementation;
7. Assist in the review of Disease surveillance to identify needs for reorientation in national policies and strategies for national surveillance;
8. Document lessons learnt and best practices particularly from areas with support from grants and dissemination for national benefit;
11. Undertake other activities relevant to child survival and development as may be requested by WHO or the Government.

Competencies

1) Communicating in a credible and effective way

2) Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

3) Creating an empowering and motivating environment

4) Ensuring the effective use of resources

5) Fostering integration and teamwork

Functional Skills and Knowledge

1. Speak and write clearly, adapting communication style and content so they are appropriate to the needs of the intended audience
2. Keep others informed of the key and relevant issues through reports, publications and documentation of best practices
3. Remain productive when under pressure
4. Monitor progress against objectives and take corrective actions necessary
5. Produce high quality results
6. Work collaboratively with team members to achieve results
7. Develop strategic plans into clearly defined objectives that take account of changing circumstance
8. Identify priorities and define realistic objectives and timeliness
9. Quickly re-allocate resources and reset priorities in response to unexpected events
10. Promote WHO’s mission and programmes successfully

Education

Essential: First degree in medicine or nursing or degree in Public Health or Epidemiology or other related field.

Desirable: Post graduate training of Masters’ degree in public health or epidemiology, specialized training in disease control and immunization.

Experience:

Essential: At least five years related experience in planning, training and implementation of EPI and disease surveillance.

Languages:

Excellent knowledge of English. Working knowledge of French or another WHO official language would be an asset.

Other Skills

• Excellent knowledge of Microsoft applications (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) with an emphasis of Excel or a similar workbook application.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues at national level to design studies, analyse data and write concise reports, to effectively monitor progress, analyse data and present results would be an asset.