Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The National Doctor (Occupational Health) reports to the Medical Officer in the FAO Health Services, CSLH.

Technical Focus

The National Doctor (Occupational Health) is responsible for the implementation of FAO health and wellbeing policies and guidelines in countries under the region including health awareness initiatives, assessment of healthcare facilities, mitigation of duty-station specific health hazards, medical evacuation, sick leave, fitness assessment and other tasks under occupational safety and health policy in FAO, and other related tasks.

Key Results

Provide emergency medical and occupational health services to all employees and eligible dependents in FAO Regional Office, identify medical facilities in the country, facilitate access of the employees to the medical facilities, conduct workplace assessment to identify potential hazards, act as regional focal point for medical evacuations.

Key Functions

Clinical activities:

•    Provide emergency medical care in the office during working hours including dealing with accidents or other emergencies suffered by an employee, or a visitor who is on the premises of FAO and be available by telephone in case of emergencies.
•    Attend inquiries of FAO employees in the region in person or virtually (phone, video call, email and other means of tele-health) and refer to specialized services, if necessary.
•    Support and coordinate with the Health Services the certifications of general health status for employees under recruitment (‘Entry Medical Clearance’), who require periodic review (‘Periodic Medical Clearance’), mission/reassignment clearance and Exit Medical Clearance.
•    Maintain accurate, precise medical records of patients supported by a regular backup in Cority system.
•    Maintain strict confidentiality with regards to patient’s medical records, patient management, and emergency treatment.
•    Other tasks related to this role and as assigned by the Medical Officer in headquarters.

Occupational Health activities:

•    Access and liaise with local medical facilities to ascertain proper medical care rendered.
•    Establish a referral list and updated list of reasonable and customary costs.
•    Monitor and verify appropriateness, reasonableness and customary nature of major medical bills/treatments as required, liaising with medical insurance.
•    Conduct workplace assessments in work environment to identify potential hazards that may cause injury or illness to workers.
•    Carry out frequent and systematic field visits to the top priority countries of the region and prepare and send periodic reports to the Medical Officer in headquarters on findings recommending solutions based on local approaches.
•    Carry out assessment of local medical facilities in the country and duty station
•    When requested by FAO Health Services in headquarters, explore areas of cooperation with health services of other UN System organizations in the country to provide our employees with additional healthcare or improve on existing one.
•    Act as a regional focal point for medical evacuations and medical travels, reporting to Health Services in headquarters for management of the MEDEVAC case.
•    Advise employees and employers regarding work-related health issues.
•    Provide advice and guidance on local and national health and safety regulations. Help the Assistant Director General/Regional Representative to develop policies and procedures to comply with these regulations.
•    Develop and apply plans for health promotion and disease prevention.
•    Support, if necessary, other United Nations Agencies in the duty station if requested, as per the followed inter-agency collaboration protocols.
•    Other tasks related to this role and as assigned by the Medical Officer in headquarters.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    National of the country of assignment.
•    Doctoral degree in medicine, including residency training preferably in Occupational Health.
•    Three years of relevant experience including occupational health and travel medicine/tropical medicine. Valid license to practice medicine in the country of duty station with certification in Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
•    Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and of the local language

Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in clinical medicine and occupational health including travel medicine/tropical medicine.
•    Excellent communication skills, both oral and in writing; demonstrated ability to write clear and concise reports and documents in English is considered a strong asset.
•    Excellent IT skills (Office suite and any Occupational Health software); the ability to extract medical data from systems to produce statistics and reports is considered a strong asset.
•    Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of French.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements