.png)
Job Description Position: Senior Health Coordinator (SHC) Responsible to: Project Coordinator (PC) Technical Line Management: Country Health Director (CHD) Location: Gode, Somali region, Ethiopia Duration: 12 months Salary: £28,730 - £29,480 per annum (dependant on relevant experience) Benefits: Insurance cover, accommodation, R&R, and annual leave entitlement of 24 days per annum rising to 30 days at the completion of 12 months of continuous employment with Merlin.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be short listed on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date
Please note this is an unaccompanied position.
Merlin Undaunted and determined, Merlin saves lives. We deliver medical expertise to the toughest places. And we stay to help build lasting health care.
Our mission is to end the needless loss of life in the poorest countries caused by a lack of effective health care. We help communities set up medical services for the long term including hospitals, clinics, surgeries and training for nurses and other health workers.
We do whatever it takes and we stay for as long as it takes.
Context After years of civil war and the subsequent border war with Eritrea, Ethiopia remains one of Africa's poorest states, with a very low income per capita and a population that is almost two-thirds illiterate. The agricultural sector has suffered from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. The devastating drought in 2003 led to widespread malnutrition and diarrhoeal disease, and resulted in more than 13 million people becoming dependent on international agencies for food. Nearly half the population of Ethiopia is without access to healthcare.
Since March 2003, Merlin has been working in Ethiopia. At that time operations were started in Oromiya Region, one of the areas worst affected by a prolonged drought. Merlin’s programs focus mainly on the provision of primary healthcare services through mobile and static clinics but include also community-based water and sanitation programs and community based nutrition programmes. Currently Merlin is maintaining three interventions in the country. Merlin’s health programs in Ethiopia are implemented in coordination with the respective Regional Health Bureaus (MoH).
In April 2008 Merlin started an Emergency health care support project in Gode Zone, located in Somali Region, in the South-Eastern part of Ethiopia and bordering neighbouring Somalia. It is said to be the poorest region in Ethiopia and has an approximate population of more than 4.5 million. Recent assessments in the region show a deterioration of the humanitarian situation with food prices increasing on a monthly basis and trade restrictions continue to adversely affect an already very fragile food security situation.
Cyclical droughts and floods in the past four years have led to the depletion of livestock and the reduction of agricultural output in a largely pastoral community. A long-standing violent conflict between two armed rebel groups and the Ethiopian Army continues to aggravate the situation for the population and access of humanitarian aid to certain areas is sometimes impeded.
Merlin’s current emergency primary health care intervention in Gode Zone, Somali Region has secured funding until May 2011. The project covers basic health care support to MoH health posts, Mobile Clinic Sites and the Gode District Hospital through the provision of drugs, basic equipment and capacity building of health workers and traditional birth attendants in the two districts (woredas) of Gode and Adadle. At the same time Merlin also has funding to strengthen our support to Gode District Hospital, especially in terms of Emergency Obstetric Care and Reproductive Health support to a far greater extent at this important referral hospital.
In the long run Merlin seeks to develop longer-term strategies to strengthen the health system in Gode Zone in close collaboration with our MoH counterparts.
Efforts will focus on: • Provision of quality primary and emergency health services through both static and outreach mobile clinic services • Improving basic preventive health care at community level • Strengthening of linkages and coordination mechanisms between communities, health facilities and government sector offices • Establishment of health monitoring and evaluation systems
Purpose of the Role
The Senior Health Coordinator employed by Merlin will be responsible at local level for leading the effective implementation of quality health programmes, grounded in best practice in response to acute and longer-term health needs, as well as make technical representations at the state level in areas pertaining to health and other related social activities. Provide support to the medical team and Country Health Director to establish good practice in the field sites and assessments when requested. To work as an effective part of the medical team, flexible and adaptable as the current context changes.
Through this work the selected person will also play an important role in expanding Merlin’s health sector profile and influence on policy and practice within the state. To achieve this objective the Senior Health Coordinator will be technically supported by the Country Health Director and the Project Coordinator.
Overall Objectives (scope) • Implementation of health programme in Gode zone • Respond to emergencies and assessments as required • Technical support to project health teams • Capacity building and supervision of local team • Management of health team
Key Responsibilities Leadership • Coordinate and functionally manage the activities at project level. • Coordinate and manage planning and direction of Merlin’s health and nutrition activities of several projects. • Support and manage the health coordinators of projects in Somali region. • Develop and maintain a coherent project strategy fulfilling Merlin’s aims in collaboration with the Project Coordinator. • Determine project direction in consultation with the Project Coordinator and Country Management Team • Create a shared vision among all Merlin health staff related to project aims and their role in achieving these.
Programme Support • Provide technical and managerial support to all health team members in fulfilment of their duties according to project objectives. • Develop, plan and implement project health activities in close collaboration with health and non-medical personnel, ensuring coherence between activities and contingencies for changes in project direction and priorities related to the humanitarian context. • Prepare the project health protocols and data collection forms in collaboration with local health representatives and ensure the team is fully conversant with and trained in the same. • Monitoring and supervision of all Primary healthcare facilities through regular visits • Responsible with the Project Coordinator for encouraging the community participation in health activities to ensure the long term ownership and effectiveness of the programme. • Provide supervision and training to medical and nursing staff to build capacity and ensure the maximum use of their skills, and their full and effective participation in health activities • Ensure health activities are implemented in accordance with Merlin policy and inter/nationally recognised standards. • Ensure that the medical stocks are properly managed in collaboration with the pharmacy officer and logistics staff. • Responsible for the timely preparation and approval of all medical orders. • Assist in the development of emergency preparedness activities of Merlin Ethiopia – e.g. preparedness planning and training activities.
Emergency Response • To respond to humanitarian emergencies under the management of the Country Health Director and Country Director. • To coordinate with the relevant local authorities and other sector actors working within the state as may be necessary • Assist in a rapid needs assessment as well as other operational research that may be conducted in the state • Assess the project emergency preparedness and response capacity as whole. • Assist in the analysis of health / humanitarian needs and the existing contexts • Programme development and management • Assist in the set up of field site and establishment of new Merlin country programmes • Technical programme administration at project level
Programme Development
• Constantly monitor the health and humanitarian situation in the project area and propose appropriate action in collaboration with the Project Coordinator and Country Health Director. • Undertake/ assist needs assessment and nutrition surveys as necessary. • Prepare and write timely and accurate donor proposals and reports in collaboration with the Project Coordinator. These documents should reflect progress against set objectives and/or newly defined needs supported by appropriate data presentation and contextual analysis. • Ensure Merlin’s HIMS system in place and working at all times. • Assess continuously the capacity needs of the staff • Prepare and write timely and accurate monthly health activity reports for inclusion in the monthly situation report submitted to Merlin HQ. • Support the Project Coordinator with negotiating new / changes to project activities with local health authorities. • Together with the Project Coordinator, ensure reports are delivered to local counterparts in time as stipulated in the project agreement. • Together with the project coordinator, ensure activities and progresses into indicators and objectives are in track. • Identify and monitor areas of undernutrition including anemia and vitamin A deficiency.
Co-ordination & Representation • Co-ordinate and represent Merlin to local health authorities at district level to ensure all project activities are carried out with their collaboration and participation in order to achieve project objectives.
• Routinely participate in meetings related to health as well as other key issues that are convened at the state level as well as at the county level in areas where merlin is operating. • Co-ordinate and represent Merlin to WHO, UNICEF, and other I/NGOs to avoid project with activity overlap whilst sufficiently addressing the full needs of the communities • Ensure key stakeholders receive regular activity reports and statistics.
Staff Management / HR • Line manage health staff effectively, using appropriate delegation • Monitor health staff performance through regular appraisal • Recruit Merlin national medical staff including the development of clear job description. • Enhance technical and health management skills of national health staff through formal & informal training in conjunction with international medical officers. • Act as Project Coordinator in PC’s absence.
Staff Health • Responsible for project based international staff health and well-being as outlined in Merlin Staff Health Policy. • Ensure up-to-date medical evacuation procedures are in place at all times and that staff are aware of their respective roles.
Other • Carry out any other responsibilities as requested by the Project Coordinator or Country Health Director • Produce written, end of post handover notes.
Person Specification Essential • Qualified doctor with a Master’s degree in public health, tropical medicine, nutrition or related area with post qualification experience. • Good knowledge and experience of running primary health care projects e.g. vaccination campaigns, response to disease outbreak, mobile clinics etc. in developing countries, within a humanitarian aid organisation • Competence in basic epidemiological analysis and knowledge of data collection methods and data analysis skills, including data representation and basic survey techniques • Strong coordination and problem solving skills in day to day and challenging situations • Flexible approach and willingness to work and manage a team with a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines • Strong experience in managing a team of health professionals and working in a cross cultural context, with excellent management and personnel skills to enable the motivation, encouragement and participation of health team members • Significant experience of representation to a broad range of people and organizations • Ability and flexibility to understand the cultural and political environment and to work well with local health representatives. • Ability to assess health conditions quickly and calmly under pressure as required. • Excellent communication skills, with good spoken and written English • Experience of working in emergencies • Good computer skills to allow reporting • Ability to remain calm and to be diplomatic, both with the local health authorities and with the community. • Good organisational skills with good leadership skills • Understanding of security issues with the ability to live and work in remote, insecure environments. • Commitment to Merlin’s values and aims
Desirable • Experience in Ethiopia or Horn of Africa. • Qualification in Nutrition or experience working on nutritional projects.
Data Protection Please note that in accordance with the 1998 Data Protection Act, Merlin will hold and use personal information that you have given for the purpose of recruitment and employment. This information can be stored in manual and/or electronic form. This information may also be disclosed to third parties in accordance with the Data Protection Act. In cases where a job offer is conditional on ensuring that potential employees’ names do not appear on counter terrorism lists generated by the United Nations, European Union or the United States due to donor funding requirements, Merlin will use the information that you have given for checking that your name does not appear on these lists.
No comments:
Post a Comment