ALIMA in NIGERIA:
ALIMA has been present in Nigeria since 2016. Its actions are part of a regional response strategy to health and nutrition emergencies, with a focus on pediatric, maternal-infant and epidemic interventions. ALIMA is present in North-East Nigeria in Borno State (MMC and Jere LGAs) and in Yobe State (Bade and Karasuwa LGAs) where it provides outpatient and inpatient healthcare and nutrition services for IDPs and host communities. In North-West Nigeria, ALIMA is in Katsina State (Kaita LGA) to respond to increased nutritional needs. ALIMA is present in the South-West, in Ondo State (Owo LGA) where teams are treating patients for Lassa fever and conducting research into improved treatment.
Since the rapid increase in Lassa Fever cases in 2018, ALIMA has been supporting the NCDC and the State Ministry of Health in Owo (Ondo State) with case management, active case detection, patient triage, public awareness campaigns, and reinforcement of the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures among health workers in the different hospital structures of Ondo State. As of today, ALIMA is intervening in Owo Federal Medical Centre (Owo FMC) to support the response to the outbreak by providing free laboratory and clinical care for suspected and confirmed cases of Lassa fever and also conducting clinical research. In 2019-2020, ALIMA set up a Viral Haemorrhagic Fever laboratory in Owo to improve patients’ care by providing fast and high-quality diagnoses. ALIMA also takes on community outreach activities and has sensitized more than 6 500 people to Lassa fever.
In addition to prevention and case management, ALIMA is currently participating in the coordination of several studies to better understand the disease in order to improve case management, including an observational cohort study (LASCOPE) to describe the clinical, biological course, management and outcomes of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of confirmed Lassa fever. With more than 1000 inclusions, the LASCOPE study enables researchers and medical experts to better understand the factors that contribute to the death of people infected with the Lassa virus. It is comprehensively documenting and analyzing the clinical and biological parameters of these patients who were admitted to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo, and more recently to the Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki. By taking an approach that integrates research, patient care and infection prevention and control, the LASCOPE project provides valuable information for the design of future diagnostic tools, vaccines and therapeutic trials aimed at finding a more specific treatment. Following the initial results of the LASCOPE study, ALIMA, and its partners are continuing, with the consent of the patients, to collect data on people admitted to the Lassa fever ward in Owo. The study has already produced several publications, including one in The Lancet.
ALIMA is also implementing a phase II clinical trial (SAFARI) at the Federal Medical Center of Owo (FMCO) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Favipiravir (antiviral drug). The ultimate goal is to improve specific treatment options and continue with an international phase III trial. All these ongoing and future research activities are in line with ALIMA’s strategic priorities to promote research against viral hemorrhagic fevers in Africa.
MISSION LOCATION: Abuja, Nigeria, with travel to All Project Sites (minimum 60% in the field).
FUNCTIONAL AND HIERARCHICAL LINKS:
- He/she reports to the Logistics Coordinator (Line Manager);
- He/she manages WASH Supervisors at the project level (Staff reporting to him/her).
PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS:
Level 3:As part of his/her duties, the incumbent will visit programs and come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or a certificate of good character will be required. In situations where a criminal record check or character reference is not available, a statement of good character will be required.
MAIN MISSION: the Flying WASH Manager at ALIMA is responsible for improving patient care and protecting people and the environment by proposing and implementing best practices for water access, hygiene, waste management, and limiting health risks. This role oversees planning, coordinating, and monitoring all WASH, construction, and rehabilitation activities in ALIMA projects to ensure high-quality programs for beneficiaries in both emergency and regular programming. Additionally, the role serves as a representative for ALIMA in technical meetings related to WASH and environmental management at the national level.
MAIN ACTIVITIES:
Responsible for all construction and rehabilitation activities in the ALIMA project in order to ensure that construction works meet the needs of ALIMA programs and include environmental issues:
- Responsible for all water, hygiene, sanitation, biosecurity, and waste management issues related to the intervention, from their design to their implementation.
- Responsible for implementing the “waste and ecosystem” component of ALIMA’s environmental roadmap.
- Responsible for the dissemination of knowledge supports of protocols and means to all people (patients, accompanying persons, staff, visitors) to guarantee their respect and proper use.
- Responsible for training ALIMA and Ministry of Health teams according to the scope of our intervention and/or the needs identified during the intervention.
- Responsible for establishing good coordination/collaboration with medical, psycho-social, logistics, outreach, and general coordination teams.
- Liaising directly with the project teams to identify the project needs and manage response and prioritization of requests. Support the implementation.
- Participates in technical discussions in terms of access to water, hygiene, waste management, and limiting health risks and environmental degradation at ALIMA’s project sites (particularly in the health structures supported) in order to promote the best practices.
- Carrying out assessment and feasibility studies in the project to provide the project team and line manager with alternatives and possible solutions to infrastructure challenges in specialization e.g., installing / building / implementing.
- Support every construction activity in the fields, and all constructions work that has been planned and discussed with the concerned departments (medical, logistics…), specifications, plans, BoQs, budget, and contract preparation.
- Carry out an assessment of the ongoing construction and rehabilitation work progress in the project and ensure proper documentation of all construction and rehabilitation work.
Water Supply:
- Plans and organizes the supply and treatment of water in the project activities according to the protocols:
- Ensures that enough drinking water is available for all patients, staff, and accompanying persons in all structures and means supported.
- Ensure that enough good quality water is available for the operation of care structures (hospitals and health centers) as well as for the use of biomedical equipment.
- Ensures that sufficient quantities of water disinfection solution are always available and that the disinfection protocol is suitable for the expected water quality.
- Ensures proper maintenance of supply equipment installed on site and plans maintenance work with technicians.
- Ensures the application of water treatment instructions and changes these instructions according to variations in the quality of the resource.
Biosecurity and Hygiene:
- Ensures that the biosecurity and hygiene rules adapted to each zone are known, understood, and applied for all people (low-risk zone, high-risk zone, place of residence, means of transport, etc.)
- As a priority, it guarantees the control of the biosecurity risk and the application of the agreed means:
- In the flow of patients, staff, and accompanying persons (often contacts) by applying the frequencies and levels of decontamination of the areas.
- In the wearing of means of protection by type of activity and personnel in charge.
- In the protocol use of wearing and undressing PPE.
- In the application of the rules of decontamination of biomedical equipment with the medical team.
- Ensures the proper application of hygiene rules in the diet of patients and staff.
- Ensures that protocols and procedures for chlorine, hydro-alcoholic, and hydrogen peroxide disinfection are applied to each risk.
- Ensures the proper application of hygiene rules for living and working places in the VHF epidemic.
- Ensures that any type of incident is reported immediately, which requires a high level of communication and trust that is important to help create and maintain.
Sanitation:
- Guarantees strict and adapted procedures in the collection up to the point of elimination of any biological liquid, whether it comes from people, care, laboratory or cleaning activities.
- Planning, construction, and maintenance of latrines and showers for patients, staff, and companions in sufficient numbers.
- Planning, construction, and maintenance of WASHing areas and means adapted to each need according to the risk.
- Planning, construction, and maintenance of kitchen areas.
- Plans and organizes the implementation of wastewater disposal and treatment systems according to their nature and origin (WASHing water, kitchen water, toilet water, shower water, etc.).
- Ensures that all of these areas are well maintained, cleaned and disinfected properly, by well-trained and well-protected teams.
Waste management:
- Ensures waste is collected, handled, transported, and disposed of safely and in accordance with appropriate protocols.
- Ensures in particular and specifically the proper management of medical waste and the adaptation of management choices according to the type and quantity of waste and particularly in the control of the management of liquid waste.
- Sets up protocols for the treatment and disposal of waste according to their nature (sharp/sharp, organic waste, “soft” waste), trains the various stakeholders, and ensures its proper application.
- Leads the improvement of biomedical and general waste management practices resulting from ALIMA’s activities and actively participates in developing, implementing, documenting and disseminating ecological and sustainable waste management plans.
Vector control:
- Plans and implements the necessary measures to fight against the different vectors depending on the environment and the individuals and adapts the means to be implemented accordingly (chemical and/or non-chemical action)
Stock management:
- Responsible for the proper management of the stock of strategic material necessary for the implementation of biosecurity: PPE combination, cleaning and disinfection materials and products, including specific products for the disinfection in connection with the project team and the log department.
- Coordinates and anticipates the consumption and orders of protective equipment in collaboration with the medical team & the logistics coordinator.
Technical Leadership:
- Provide WASH sector technical leadership for the Country Office and set the strategic approach in relation to the wider country strategy. Be the focal point for the “waste and ecosystem” component of ALIMA’s environmental roadmap.
- Build capacity, mentor, and build a supportive WASH/environment community across the Country Office, in conjunction with experts and colleagues within the medical department.
- Ensure relevant, evidence-based WASH/environment activities are integrated into the Medical activities.
- Establish a monitoring system for WASH, construction & rehabilitation and environmental activities (indicators, documentation, etc.).
SKILLS and EXPERIENCE:
- Experience:
- Significant experience (3 years minimum) in a WASH Manager or environmental engineering position, with a specialty in waste and water resource management.
- Strong technical knowledge in WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and construction aspects related to humanitarian projects.
- Experience in a medical intervention context or knowledge of medical logistics.
- Knowledge of the environmental impact of humanitarian projects.
- Demonstrated ability to transfer knowledge through training and support.
- Willingness to learn and seek advice.
- Understanding that the well-being of patients and the protection of healthcare workers, hygienists, and other support staff are top priorities.
- Good anticipation skills based on an understanding of medical and operational needs, including knowledge of epidemics, such as transmission chains, epidemiological data, and context.
- Overall, the candidate should have a strong technical background and a willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges while maintaining a focus on patient care and safety.
- Language:
- English (oral and written) is mandatory
- French is an asset
CONDITIONS:
Contract term: contract under French law, 6 months renewable.
Salary: depending on experience + per diem
ALIMA covers the following expenses:
- Travel costs between the expatriate’s country of origin and the mission location
- Accommodation in the field
- Medical coverage for the employee from the first day of the contract to one month after the date of departure from the mission country
- Evacuation of the employee.
How to apply
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
Applications are processed in the order of arrival, and we reserve the right to close the offer before the term initially indicated if a good application is successful. Only complete applications (CV in PDF format + cover letter in PDF format) will be considered.
Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
