WHO works closely with the Ministry of Health, other UN agencies and partners to improve the health outcomes for the people of Sierra Leone. The country has a number of pressing health challenges, including high rates of maternal and child mortality. The Ministry has declared zero tolerance for both maternal and child mortality hence accelerated reduction of the high burden of maternal and child mortality is a priority. The MOH’s Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Policy and Strategy provides strategic direction to end preventable mortality and enhance the health and wellbeing of women, newborns, children, and adolescents in Sierra Leone. The RH/FP programme, in conjunction with the Quality Management Unit in MOH lead on improving sexual and reproductive health outcomes and the quality and experience of care. There have been significant advances in efforts to strengthen MDSR, EmONC training and mentoring, and initiate Obstetric triage assessment and treatment in selected high-volume facilities, but access to and utilization of many SRH cost-effective interventions remain limited. The nursing and midwifery workforce constitutes the largest workforce for health and is central to attaining the ambitious targets of RMNCAH Strategy, but challenges remain with respect to nursing and midwifery education, scope of practice and regulation The RMNCAH strategy promotes a range of interventions that should be further facilitated and describes those remaining barriers and bottlenecks which should be urgently addressed to end preventable mortality and enhance the health of women, newborns, children, and adolescents in Sierra Leone. The National Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan 2019- 2023 aims to assess the context-specific needs in nursing and midwifery within the wider remit of the relevant policies of the Ministry of Health (MOH), and to translate these into strategies for the improved provision of services
Under the supervision of the ULC Cluster and RMNCAH unit lead, the National Professional Officer, (Sexual & Reproductive Health) will: • Work closely with other RMNCAH team members and with MOH colleagues at central and district level to develop and implement strategies to improve Sexual Reproductive Health within RMNCAH, including liaising with stakeholders in the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Directorate, the Nursing & Midwifery Directorate, and the Quality Management programme • Participate in the Review of the Sierra Leone National Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Strategy to assess performance against health systems capacity to deliver SRH interventions and make recommendations to address bottlenecks and gaps • Support the translation and implementation of the Sierra Leone Quality and Patient Safety Roadmap, as it applies to sexual reproductive & maternal health. In particular support the application of QI approaches to reducing maternal deaths from the commonest causes of maternal mortality, building on current efforts Position Description – Professional Classified version of Position Description as at: 07-Mar-2024 3 Sensitivity: Internal & Restricted • Support the implementation of the National Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan, and activities to commemorate and document the Sierra Leone International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife • Coordinate TWG engagements and forums in order to plan and prioritize for the most effective coordinated delivery of technical assistance. This will be done through reviewing and familiarizing with national RMNCAH health policies, strategies, programmes, and related legislation, major players. • Work with other Nursing & Midwifery HRH partners to build the capacity of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty to deliver quality competency-based education • Build the capacity of the Nurses and Midwives Board to regulate the nursing and midwifery workforce and pre-service education • Collaborate in the facilitation and supervision of central and district level RMNCAH in-service and on-the-job trainings, with follow up on quality supportive supervision, mentorship, and corrective actions, in order to ensure that trainings are more effective and result in sustained positive changes in knowledge, competencies, attitudes and practices. And where relevant support preservice curriculum development and training • Prepare monthly donor progress reports against agreed detailed work plan milestones, and quarterly technical reports. Assist MOH in preparing concept notes and budgets for activities, and their reporting on these. • Collaborate with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and Headquarters and support global and regional initiatives through joint planning and missions with a specific focus on the development and implementation of SRH priorities including to global and regional declarations and mandates, and • Perform all other related duties as assigned
Essential: University degree in Medicine, Midwifery, or other Clinical discipline
Desirable: Postgraduate degree in Clinical Sciences and/or Public Health with specialization in SRH or equivalent from a recognized University or College Experience
Essential: At least 5 years of relevant post qualification experience including clinical practice
Desirable: Experience working on scaling up the delivery of public health programmes at decentralized levels. Experience in pre-service medical education/clinical instruction of health professionals, (doctors, midwives, other)
Strong technical skills and knowledge in the area of Reproductive and Child Health Skills and ability to timely synthesize key components and working group outputs. Ability to build and promote partnerships across the organization and beyond. Demonstrated ability to produce results, while respecting WHO’s professional, ethical, and legal framework
Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Beginners knowledge of French.
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at SLE 528,310 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.