QUALIFICATIONS

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Provide technical support to the teams of the departments and health districts targeted in planning, implementation, and, monitoring and’ evaluation of the actions of’IEP in the context of the transition of the Polio Programme and its integration into the programme of vaccine-preventable diseases.

REASON FOR BEING IN THE POSITION

The Republic of the Congo reported its last case of wild poliovirus in January 2011. Since September 2020, the country has registered 4 cases of cVDPV2 in the health districts of Mvouti-Kakamoeka (Kouilou), Bacongo (Brazzaville) and Mossendjo (Niari) respectively. To these viruses must be added 1 cVDPVD2 isolated from the’environment in Poto-Poto (Brazzaville) in 2020 and 1 cVDPVD2 isolated in the Kimongo district (Niari) also in 2020.

In 2022 and 2023, the Congo has experienced polio epidemics again, and is becoming, like the DRC, a, a country with a co-circulation (simultaneous circulation of poliovirus varying from type 1 and 2).

Because on October 15, 2022 01 cases of cVDPV1 registered in the district of Dolisie (department of Niari) and on April 11, 2023 a case of 01 cases of cVDPV2 was recorded in environmental monitoring framework in Loandjili District (Department of Pointe-Noire). Finally a 01 a &t& classified by the CNEP compatible a in the district of Mossendjo (department of Niari)

This epidemiological situation has led the Government of the Republic of the Congo, with the support of’Immunization partners, in particular, the consultative group of the Global Initiative for the’Eradication of Poliomyelitis (IMEP), to, to implement a device to allow, in addition to strengthening routine surveillance and ENP, to organize a vaccine response in the Health Districts in case of a response.

In order to provide a vigorous response to this epidemic and to ensure that the epidemic risk for polio is minimized, a number of urgent’ interventions will be conducted by the country, including, in the 12 departments classified according to priority by the Extended Programme of Vaccination of’ after the’ risk analysis.

In a context of limited human resources at the operational level and in which other public health interventions already monopolize the’essential of health personnel, the, interventions that include surveillance of cases of acute flaccid paralysis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, planning, implementation, and, monitoring and’evaluation of routine and additional vaccination activities, communication and social mobilization, require the immediate deployment of additional human resources in the departments.

The partners of the Global Programme for the eradication of polio, through the’OMS recruits national consultants to be deployed in targeted health departments and districts in addition to stop-team and international consultants in order to provide technical support to the various activities of the’ initiative of L’Eradication of Polio and other vaccine-preventable disease programmes

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNED TASKS

Under the direct supervision of the head of the’ polio eradication team at the Office of the Representation of’OMS in Congo, Congo, the national SSAs will be responsible for providing support to district management teams to :

1.1. Update/Establish an exhaustive list of all potential sites in the district likely to report cases of PFA, including,

1.2. Implement the specific surveillance strategies established by the Extended Vaccination Programme. 

1.3. Carry out Visits to priority sites for the monitoring of AFPs according to the pre-established schedule.

1.4. S’ensure of the availability of sampling equipment in sanitary facilities.

1.5. Check the’ operating state of the cold chain and propose corrective measures if necessary.

1.6. S’ ensure that all notified cases of PFA meet the standard definition of cases).

1.7. Program and ensure the realization of clinical follow-up examinations of cases of PFA to 60 e day (cases with inadequate stool samples and negative laboratory results).

1.8. Participate in awareness raising and social mobilization for early detection and notification of PFA cases (health committee, group, tri-practitioners)

1.9. S’ ensure that all essential documents of PFA monitoring are properly archived and available for consultation during district level supervision visits.

1.10. Ensure that the district-level AFP monitoring database is properly maintained, and data analyzed, and key indicators calculated and displayed.

1.11. Support preparations for response campaigns in the district (training of supervisors, vaccinators, deployment of inputs, etc.)

1.12. The implementation of the response campaigns to the VDPV through the supervision of vaccination operations.

1.13. Coordinate the activities of’assessment of the quality of response campaigns (independent monitoring and LQAS). As such, the consultant ensures the recruitment, training, deployment and daily monitoring of the monitors. At the end of the evaluations, it compiles the data and transmits them at the hierarchical level.

1.14. Participate in the daily coordination meetings of the district

1.15. Support the preparation of weekly reports

1.16. Support routine immunization activities and integrated disease surveillance while focusing on campaigning and surveillance activities is a priority PFA monitoring.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Applicants must hold at least one Public Health Bachelor’s degree. Experience in public health programs at the community level would be an asset. The SSA must be available and free from any engagement with the Government, including the Ministry of Health during the consultation period.

DURATION OF THE CONSULTATION :

The consultation period will be 6 months. 

REMUNERATION

The proposed remuneration is set at grade G4 of the United Nations salary grid in the Congo.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level 

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. 

• A written test may be used as a form of screening. 

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for 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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