Provincial Immunization and Surveillance Coordinator

Roster for Provincial Immunization and Surveillance Coordinator (PISC) (2407100)

Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): The duration of the contract will depend on the need of the function.
Closing Date: Nov 20, 2024, 4:44:00 AM
Primary Location: Nepal
Organization: SE_NEP WR Office, Nepal
Schedule: Full-time

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

Objective of the position

The overall objective of the Provincial Immunization and Surveillance Coordinator (PISC) position is to strengthen existing VPD surveillance and immunization system in the provinces through high level advocacy and technical assistance to provincial health authorities. To guide and support Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officers (SIMOs) in assigned provinces. Address inequities in immunization coverage by focusing on zero dose agenda, support accelerated VPD disease surveillance (Measles, Rubella, Polio, others) at Province and Sub Province level and support in implementation of polio transition plan.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the overall guidance of Team Lead-WHO IPD, and direct supervision of the National Professional Officer (NPO) – Immunization Cluster Lead, with technical line of reporting to (NPO) Surveillance Cluster Lead, the PISC will coordinate WHO-IPD Field Offices to provide technical assistance to districts and municipality on immunization and VPD surveillance. In close coordination with field offices, PISC will lead overall immunization and VPD surveillance activities in provinces collaborating with immunization section of the Provincial Health Directorate (PHD), Provincial Public Health Laboratory (PPHL) and other relevant divisions under Provincial Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP)/ Ministry of Health/ Ministry of Social Development (MoSD). PISC will advocate with provincial/ local health authorities to ensure surveillance performance standards are met, data analysed and disseminated for action. The incumbent will support Immunization Agenda 2030 to achieve high immunization coverage with reduction of zero dose and under immunized children.The incumbent will work closely with relevant health authorities to support outbreak preparedness and response, vaccine safety/AEFI surveillance and strengthen routine immunization focusing urban and hard-to-reach areas, zero dose, under immunized and missed children from routine and supplementary immunization. In coordination with WHO-IPD Central Office, the PISC will support field offices to achieve the expected results set out in the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), WHO-IPD biennial workplan, and Polio Transition Plan.

The position of PISC demands extensive travel in assigned provinces and will have the following tasks/responsibilities:

Coordination and advocacy:

• Provide strategic technical assistance to PHD, PPHL, Provincial MoH/MoSD and other relevant health authorities for immunization and VPD surveillance with focus on measles and rubella elimination and sustaining polio free status.
• Work in close collaboration with the provincial and district health authorities, and priority municipalities, to provide strategic vision, advocacy, and technical assistance on sustaining polio free status, MR elimination, sustaining Japanese encephalitis (JE) control, sustaining maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination as well as control of other priority VPDs.
• Ensure advocacy at all levels to support Polio Transition Plan. Support the local authorities in enhanced government ownership for VPD surveillance activities, budget inclusion in provincial annual workplan and budget (AWPB) etc.
• Coordinate planning of surveillance and immunization activities in the province, their linkage to the financial resources including monitoring implementation of these plans.
• Coordinate with PPHL and subnational VPD labs to strengthen provincial capacity on VPD laboratory surveillance.
• Coordinate Training/Workshops/Meetings (TWM) along with SIMOs to build capacity of provincial and Health Office staff on VPD surveillance and immunization.
• Provide leadership and technical support for the operations of WHO supported activities in provinces, supervising and guiding
• SIMOs of the assigned provinces through field visits and feedback on analysed data.

Strengthening Routine Immunization

• Support the equity and coverage agenda to address inequities.
• Provide technical support to Provincial Immunization Coordination Committee (PICC) and District Immunization Coordination Committees (DICC) on a regular basis. Proactively participate, draft and share minutes of meeting with peers and seniors.
• Support in conducting Routine Immunization and VPD reviews in the assigned provinces.
• Support the local health authorities in implementation of Urban Immunization Agenda.
• Provide TA to achieve and sustain high immunization coverage of all antigens. Provide technical support during supplementary immunization activities including nation-wide vaccination campaigns.
• Review and monitor surveillance and immunization activities related to polio eradication, measles rubella elimination, VPD surveillance and new vaccine introduction in provinces. Share constructive feedback to the provincial health authorities and WHO-
• IPD central team on a periodic basis for timeline based appropriate actions.

Enhance VPD surveillance

• Ensure provinces achieve cardinal VPD surveillance indicators and surveillance database systems maintained with quality data of all priority VPDs surveillance.
• Conduct data triangulation with input from VPD surveillance database (AFP, MR, NNT, JE) iHMIS, National and sub-national surveys, WHO-IPD independent monitoring findings to generate evidence-based information to improve VPD surveillance and immunization system.
• Once available, will support districts in implementation of data training of data handlers at all levels.
• Conduct supportive supervision field visit of poliovirus environment surveillance sites, monitor field activities with checklist and provide constructive feedback on site selection, sample collection time including environmental surveillance data management.
• Conduct periodic monitoring visits of sentinel surveillance sites such as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) sites, rotavirus sentinel surveillance sites.
• Review progress on community based VPD surveillance and independent monitoring of field immunization activities supported by Independent Field Volunteers (IFV). Conduct monitoring of monitors (MoM) to accelerate community surveillance and strengthening findings of independent field findings.
• Provide support for drafting technical presentations, reports, IEC materials/messages, provincial strategic documents on VPD surveillance and immunization required for decision making and implementing strategic decisions in the provinces.
• Support WHO IPD team in conducting need based surveys, evaluations, assessments, PIE.

VPD outbreak preparedness and response

• Provide technical assistance on outbreak preparedness and response for measles and polio and outbreak response immunization.
• Advocate and assist provinces on resources required for outbreak preparedness and response, including inclusion of fund in provincial annual workplan and budget.
• Engage and participate in strategic meetings of Rapid Response Committees (RRC) and Rapid Response Teams (RRT).
• Support capacity building of RRT members. Engage and collaborate with RRT for responding to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.

Capacity building

• Facilitate capacity building of provincial health staff on VPD surveillance, routine immunization, catch-up and supplementary immunization activities, VPD related preparedness, outbreak response, AEFI surveillance, readiness assessment for new vaccine introduction.

Program management

• Ensure field offices maintain and submit monthly technical and financial report as per project guidelines and requirements.
• Lead overall management and administration of the assigned field offices in compliance with WHO Country Office financial rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinate with other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, professional associations including Nepal Paediatric Society (NEPAS) and other relevant stakeholders involved in surveillance and immunization related activities in the provinces.
• Strictly adhere to prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Ensure all WHO supported trainings and meeting and adhere to PRSEAH policy, WHO norms and standards.
• Proactively and urgently flag any gaps related to data quality/ fund use/ misuse of official resources.
• Support first line supervisor in documenting technical, admin and financial feedback of the SIMO offices in the assigned provinces.
• Perform any other assigned duties as per needs of the WHO- IPD programme and as per instruction of WHO-IPD Central Office.
• This includes duty travel or duty-station reassignment on short notice as per the program requirement.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential:

Medical graduate from an institution recognized by Nepal Medical Council with valid registration in the Nepal Medical Council / Graduate degree in Western medicine (MBBS or equivalent) from recognized college or university. (Can check from http://www/whed.net)

Desirable:

Post graduate qualification in one or more of the following disciplines or allied disciplines would be considered an asset: Public Health / Epidemiology / Global or International Health / Community Medicine / Paediatrics.

Experience:

Essential:

At least 3.5 years’ experience in vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) surveillance and immunization/infectious diseases program/immunization and VPD surveillance research.

Desirable:

Demonstrated experience in public health data analysis and related software.
Demonstrated experience in public health emergency response.
Experience of working in the NGO/INGO sector or UN would be an asset

Functional skills and knowledge:

Thorough knowledge of public health, immunization and vaccine preventable diseases is essential. Experience of monitoring, evaluation, and data analysis is required. Ability to plan and execute training, Workshop, meetings. Ability to participate actively in knowledge sharing and policy forums at various levels. Should have ability to analyse data and interpret the findings for corrective action. Should have good writing skills in English and able produce quality documentation (technical reports, plans and proposals).

Other Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office:
• Proficiency in Statistical / Epidemiological Analysis software desired.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individuals and cultural differences
• Communication
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Producing Results

Language: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken language skills in English and Nepali

Remuneration:

Monthly Salary: (Net of tax) NPR 239,245 (Grade: SSA Level 9) at single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws and functional modality will be through Special Services Agreement)

Duty Station: Any of the WHO-IPD Field Offices (across Nepal) with responsibility assigned for multiple provinces.

Travel: The position requires extensive travel in the assigned areas. Based on program may need to undertake travel in other priority provinces.

Additional Information

• This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interviews may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required or this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International
• Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• This post is subject to local recruitment (Nepalese national) only.
• Any extension of appointment would be subject to programmatic requirements, performance of the incumbent and availability of funds.
• Qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply