Summary
Date Posted: Friday, August 18 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Main Purpose of the Job: To strengthen the public health sector's capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for COVID-19 patients and to work with the district COVID-19 Taskforces to lead and coordinate the regional health response to contain COVID-19 outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. The COVID-19 Surveillance Advisor will also work to increase public health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. S/he shall coordinate and oversee the COVID-19 interventions implemented by the USAID Local Partner Health Services-Ankole & Acholi Activity at regional, district, facility and community levels, with particular focus on raising awareness on disease prevention and control, creating demand for services, and supporting home-based care and referral efforts through a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach. S/he will work hand in hand with the Ministry of Health, COVID-19 Incident CompORt Team (IMT), Regional Referral Hospitals, District Local Governments, Public Health Facilities, Community Leaders, the Media Fraternity and the USAID SBCA mechanism to deliver a robust COVID-19 Response in the project area

Key Outputs
• COVID-19 Surveillance activities at community level coordinated and facilitated
• Relevant messages to targeted communities disseminated
• Availability of IC materials for the project ensured
• Personal Protective Equipment for Health Workers and Community Volunteers provided
• Capacity building for COVID-19 Taskforce teams, health workers and Community volunteers engaged in community sensitization coordinated
• Monthly and quarterly reports prepared and submitted in time

Key Duties and Responsibilities
1. Provide technical, managerial and policy advice for the development and update of regional guidelines for COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine;
2. Consult and collaborate with national, regional and district task forces on best practices for early detection, cluster investigation and active case-finding of COVID-19 suspect cases/clusters and develop related guidelines and evidence briefs;
3. Provide technical guidance and support regional and subnational efforts to design, implement, evaluate and optimize COVID-19 contact tracing strategies;
4. Establish a regional system to monitor on a weekly basis the performance of national COVID 19 early detection, surveillance and contact tracing activities and to provide timely feedback to countries;
5. Direct the management of the regional COVID-19-line list and the optimization of the flow of nominal COVID-19 surveillance data among the district, regional and national levels;
6. Formulate and recommend policies and strategies to districts for strengthening surveillance and contact tracing for COVID-19; coordinate the development, implementation and analysis of such strategies;
7. Advise and contribute to the analysis of information produced by contact tracing activities and support the development of systems for the early detection and investigation of COVID-19 cases;
8. Aid districts in implementing and maintaining their COVID-19 field investigation, surveillance and contact tracing activities;
9. Provide technical advice for inter-programmatic coordination with other technical departments in the development and implementation of COVID-19 surveillance, field investigation and contact tracing activities;
10. Disseminate and provide training to district taskforces on guidelines and best practices in COVID-19 early detection, surveillance and contact tracing;
11. Organize trainings and support the district, health facility and community-level implementation related to novel tools for COVID-19 contact tracing;
12. Support the integration of COVID-19 surveillance into ongoing sentinel surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections, Tuberculosis and influenza-like illnesses;
13. Organize and participate in action reviews and simulation exercises at regional and district level related to COVID-19 and pandemic influenza preparedness;
14. Participate in national-level Technical Working Groups on COVID-19 and advise in the development of COVID-19 innovative training in national institutions to transfer technology to national personnel on methods and techniques in contact tracing and field investigation;
15. Prepare regular and ad-hoc progress and scientific/evidence-based reports based on the contact
16. Collaborate with other units in the USAID Local Partner Health Services-Ankole & Acholi project to achieve efficient implementation of activities, systematic utilization of resources and comprehensive development of study, research and analytical capacities required for effective COVID-19 control;
17. Serve as the regional focal point for COVID-19 contact tracing;
18. Contribute to briefings with internal and external partners; Promote coordination and collaboration between TASO and other international and national scientific or professional groups involved in COVID-19 surveillance and contact tracing;
19. Participate in the TASO COVID-19 Incident Management System,;
20. When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
21. Perform any other related responsibilities as may be assigned by the Supervisor from time to time, including replacing and backstopping other technical project personnel.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS: COVID-19 Surveillance Advisor (CSA)
• Minimum Academic Qualifications: Clinical background including MBChB, Clinical Medicine, or Nursing with a Master's in Public Health.
• Additional Training in epidemiological surveillance through the field epidemiology fellowship will be an added advantage. A PhD in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Public health, Epidemiology, or related field from a recognized university, and/or a field epidemiology training program would be desirable.

Required Experience and Exposure
• At least 5 years of combined district, regional and national level experience in the planning, management and evaluation of public health surveillance systems and of prevention/control programs for epidemic-prone diseases such as HIV/AIDS, TB, Ebola or COVID-19.
• Technical expertise and skills in the prevention and control of epidemic-prone diseases. Theoretical and practical knowledge of public health program planning, implementation and monitoring/evaluation.
• Ability to analyse technical information and synthesize inputs from multiple sources.
• Ability to integrate scientific and operational inputs into recommendations for decision-making.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization, national and international levels.
• Experience in the prevention and control of COVID-19, influenza or other respiratory viruses.
• Experience in the design and implementation of epidemiologic studies and evaluations.
• Field experience in the response to outbreaks in low and middle-income countries would be an asset.
• Experience working with MoH officials and collaborating with donors
• Knowledge of US programming policies and regulations, MoH and district procedures and practices.
• Specialized knowledge and experience in Community Health and stakeholder engagement skills and attributes

Key Skills
• Strong professional oral and writing skills, including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization, national and international fora. Must be fluent in oral and written English
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work effectively in a team.
• Strong organizational skills, analytical capabilities, able to work in a fast-paced environment, demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks.
• Excellent analytic skills, oral and written communication skills.
• Strict attention to detail, Strong interpersonal skills and excellent time management skills.
• Robust computer skills, MS Office Applications, including making presentations
• Overall attitude at work: Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; demonstrates commitment to TASO's mandate and promotes the values of TASO.
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences.
• Teamwork: Collaborates and cooperates with others.
• Communication: Expresses oneself clearly when speaking/Listens/Writes effectively/Shares knowledge - Foresees communication needs of audience and targets message accordingly.
• Producing Results: Works efficiently and independently to deliver quality results - Monitors own and others' work in a systematic and effective way, ensuring required resources and outputs.
• Ensuring effective use of resources: Strategize and set clear objectives, monitors progress and uses resources well.
• Building and promoting partnerships across TASO and beyond: Develops networks and nortnerching and encourages collaboration.


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 60

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Interested applicants?Click here to apply

All Jobs

QUICK ALERT SUBSCRIPTION