Qualifications

Objective of the position

The Surveillance and Immunization Medical Officer (SIMposition provides technical assistance (Tto province, district, municipality, and health facilities in all matters related to immunization and vaccine preventable disease (VPsurveillance. Such TA includes but is not limited to capacity building and sensitization of government and private health sectors in VPD surveillance, outbreak investigation but also in active case search, data analysis and reporting, routine immunization (Rwith focus on coverage and equity, supplementary immunization activities (SI, vaccination campaigns, outbreak response immunization (OR, COVID19 vaccination, and other support as needed.  

 Description of Duties (TO

Under the overall guidance of Medical Officer, Team Lead, WHOIPD, and direct supervision of the National Professional Officer (NPImmunization Cluster Lead, with technical line of reporting to NPO Surveillance Cluster Lead, the SIMO performs the following functions. 

Polio eradication

• As per Ministry of Health and Population (MoHand WHO guidelines, SIMO will provide strategic technical assistance (Tto support polio eradication activities. SIMO will provide technical support for AFP surveillance in assigned districts of the province. This includes the following minimum functions with active involvement of provincial and district officials: 

1. 1. Setup and proactively liaise with a dynamic network of surveillance sites through regular active case search of AFP cases, ensuring timeliness and completeness of weekly reports, prompt reporting of suspected cases, investigation, and adequate sample collection. 
   2. Validate AFP case details through investigation of reported AFP cases on time. 
   3. Maintain uptodate AFP case data and laboratory results, ensuring data quality, and timely submission of technical case report to the WHOIPD central unit as per program guidelines. Analyse, interpret, and disseminate surveillance information for follow up actions in assigned areas. 
   4. Achieve and sustain AFP surveillance performance indicators above international and regional standards in the assigned areas/districts. 

• Liaise with Government staff, relevant professional and academic organizations, polio partners (UNICEF, Rotary, etc.) and civil society organizations (CSOto accelerate polio eradication activities in the assigned areas.  
• Provide technical support in planning, capacity building, implementation, and evaluation of polio RI and SIAs including development of special strategies for reaching zero dose and under immunized children of highrisk areas,  
• In accordance with guidelines provided by WHO and MoHP, provide TA for capacity building of government and private health sectors in polio eradication activities. 
• As instructed and coordinated by WHOIPD central office, work with counterparts across international borders for coordinated activities on polio eradication including crossborder VPD surveillance and immunization. 
• In coordination with WHOIPD central office, provide technical support on polio outbreak preparedness and response and facilitate implementation and monitoring of polio environmental surveillance. 

Measles Rubella (Melimination

• In accordance with MoHP and WHO guidelines, SIMO will provide strategic TA to provincial government for measles rubella (Melimination activities within assigned area. This will include: 
  • TA to achieve and sustain high quality MR surveillance performance indicators above international and regional standards. 
  • Setup and proactively liaise with a dynamic network of casebased MR surveillance sites through regular active case search, ensuring timeliness and completeness of weekly reports, prompt notification of suspected cases, investigation, and adequate sample collection. 
  • Maintain uptodate MR case data and laboratory results, ensuring data quality, and timely submission of technical report to the WHOIPD central unit as per program guidelines. Analyse, interpret, and disseminate surveillance information for follow up actions in assigned areas. 
  • Liaise with appropriate technical networks and partners.  
  • Accelerate progress towards measles and rubella (Melimination. 
  • TA to achieve and sustain very high routine MR coverage with equity. 
  • TA during SIA, vaccination campaigns and ORI. 

• Provide TA for other strategic objective of MR elimination such as strengthening laboratories, outbreak preparedness and response and enablers in coordination with WHOIPD central office. 
• Maintain liaison with Government staff, relevant professional and academic organizations, measlesrubella partners (UNICEF, Red Cross, etc.) and CSOs. 
• Provide technical support in planning, capacity building, implementation, and evaluation of MR routine immunization and SIAs including development of special strategies to reach zero dose and under immunized children of highrisk areas. 
• In coordination with WHOIPD central office: 
  • build capacity on measles outbreak preparedness and response 
  • implementation of CRS (congenital rubella syndromsentinel surveillance.  
  • support activities of WHO accredited subnational MR laboratories as needed. 

Control and elimination of other Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VP

• Provide TA for surveillance of other priority VPDs such as Japanese encephalitis, maternal and neonatal tetanus, diphtheria, and other support activities related to control and/or elimination of these VPDs. 
• Provide TA for routine immunization and any SIA targeted against these VPDs to achieve high coverage with equity in the assigned areas. 

Support immunization

• Provide TA to improve RI coverage with equity. This will include but not limited to capacity building of programme managers and health workers on new vaccine introduction, strengthening RI microplanning, assessing cold chain and logistics systems, and monitoring and evaluation of RI session focusing on zerodose and under vaccinated children from highrisk areas.  
• In consultation with WHOIPD central office, provide strategic TA for Full Immunization Declaration (FIwith sustainability efforts and other similar Government initiatives, as needed. 
• Use VPD surveillance, immunization coverage, WHOIPD independent surveillance and immunization monitoring data to identify high risk areas with regards to diseases targeted for elimination or eradication, so that appropriate responses can be undertaken. 
• Provide technical support to the COVID19 vaccination program including but not limited to TA for preparedness, capacity building and training, microplanning, identifying areas of low Covid19 vaccination coverages and providing technical support for supportive supervision of sessions sites and AEFI surveillance. 
• Provide technical support for planning, preparedness, implementation, and followup of SIA including nationwide vaccination campaigns, selected areas vaccination campaign and ORI to achieve high coverages with equity.  
• Conduct high quality independent monitoring of VPD surveillance and RI at district, health facility, session site and community levels through capacity building and deployment independent field monitors (IF.  
• Maintain independent monitoring data of assigned areas and conduct quality reviews and checks. Review, analyse, and disseminate independent RI monitoring data of zerodose and under immunized children from highrisk and vulnerable communities. 
• Provide TA for Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFsurveillance including support for AEFI case investigation and submission of quality technical investigation reports as per MoHP and WHO guidelines. 

 Cross cutting activities

• Develop and maintain close working relationships with Health Offices and Provincial Health Directorate as well as municipalities to support the National Immunization Program. 
• Coordinate with other surveillance systems to reconcile VPD data between VPD surveillance and other surveillance systems for major VPDs. 
• Triangulate available data and use evidencebased approach to provide technical support in assigned areas to improve VPD surveillance and immunization. 
• On request from Health Office provide technical support to rapid response team (RRto investigate any suspected VPD outbreak and other outbreaks as needed. 
• Support emergency response under guidance from WHOIPD central office. 

 Administrative & supervisory

• As per WHOIPD field office (Fstructure, directly supervise Field Data and Operation Assistant (FDO, Driver and other personnel as deployed and assigned by WHOIPD central office. 
• Take overall responsibility of the assigned IPD Field Office (F, its assets, IPD FO Imprest bank account and unit cash book (if assigne, with assistance from FDOA. 
• Perform other administrative duties according to established WHO guidelines. 
• Work closely with respective Provincial Immunization and Surveillance Coordinator (PISto support the Surveillance activities and National Immunization Programme. 

      Strictly adhere to compliance related to guidelines and SOPs related to prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment

           Perform other assigned duties as per programme requirement and instruction of WHOIPD Central Office. This includes duty travel or dutystation reassignment on short notice as per the program requirements.

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 equivalenfrom 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 two years’ experience in Public Health or related work, or a minimum of two years’ experience in Health Sector inclusive of at least one year’s experience in public health.

Desirable: 

1) Experience of working with immunization and or disease surveillance programs. 

2) Demonstrated experience in training/teaching/learning activities.

3) Demonstrated experience in public health emergency response

4) Experience of working in the NGO/INGO sector or UN would be an asset  

Functional Skill and knowledge:

Good interpersonal skills and able to work as a team member in a multicultural environment. Ability to travel within the country and to perform practical handson field work. Good knowledge of immunization and surveillance with analytical skills on data presentation and able to prepare technical reports, plans and proposals.

Other Skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 
• Proficiency in Epidemiological Analysis software desired. 

WHO Competencies:

Communication

Producing Results

Teamwork

Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Moving forward in a changing environment

Language: Excellent knowledge of English and Nepali

Remuneration: 

Monthly Salary: (Net of taNPR 196,00 (Grade: SSA Level VIIat single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws, and functional modality will be through Special Services Agreemen

Duty Station: Any of the WHOIPD Field Offices (across Nepa

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(/diploma(/certificate(required or this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHE, a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IA/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESC. 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. 
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int. 
• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. 
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversityequityandinclusioare strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. 
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process.  
• Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int 
• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/whoweare/ourvalueinto practice. 
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SE, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassmen. All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of shortlisted candidates. 
• WHO has a smokefree environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.  
• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services(SH. The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Countryspecific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccinationrelated queries please directly contact SHW directly atshws@who.int. 
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• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station. 
• 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