Posted on: Wed 09-08-2023

The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) is a non-profit networking and service alliance of Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs (FELTPs), and other applied epidemiology training programs. AFENET has operations in over 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa or the World Health Organisation Africa Region (WHO – AFRO). Established in 2005, AFENET is dedicated to helping Ministries of Health in Africa build strong, effective, sustainable programs and capacity to improve public health systems on the African continent.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: NSTOP State Field Coordinator  

Location: Sokoto

Work Hours: Full time

Open to: All  Interested Candidates

Details

• The African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) Program seeks the services of a State Field Coordinator.  

Job Description

Polio Eradication Initiatives (PEI):

In general, assist State PHC team and polio eradication emergency center (EOC) in strengthening PEI coordination at the State and LGA level.  

Specifically, provide support for polio eradication activities with a focus on:  

Technical support for Polio SIA and outbreak response:  

• Support all pre-implementation, implementation, and post implementation activities for SIAs and OBRs with focus on  
• Supporting all trainings  
• Supporting the updating of micro-plan and daily implementation plan  
• Supporting the development of plans to reach nomadic/scattered populations and other under-served communities.  
• Compile the list of settlements not reached during SIAs.  
• Keep track of inaccessibility mapping across the State from ward level line list  
• Support state in planning and conduct of in-between-rounds activities  
• Support outbreak investigations for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases  
• Coordinate and supervise NSLOs activities.  

Coordination of volunteers in the State:

• Review their monthly report and disseminate the feedback to the State.  
• Support the State in integrating the Volunteers to support the State in-between round activities.  

Surveillance Activities:

Strengthening surveillance:    

• Provide technical support to the state surveillance officers (state Epidemiologist, State DSNO) in coordination, planning, supervision and monitoring of Polio and other VPD surveillance.  
• Support state surveillance team with analysis and interpretation of surveillance data  
• Attend and provide technical support during monthly surveillance review meeting at the state level and quarterly joint surveillance and immunization meeting  
• Provide technical support for all surveillance related trainings and capacity building activity in the state    
• Conduct active surveillance visits and clinician sensitization at major (tertiary and secondary) hospitals within the state  
• Conduct surveillance supportive supervision to DSNO and NSLO in poor performing LGAs and provide technical and operational guidance to improve surveillance and address identified gaps  
• Coordinate implementation of surveillance activities by community informant in inaccessible (CIIA) areas/settlements in the state  
• Support surveillance activities among nomads, interstate and international border settlements and other chronically missed communities.  
• Support national surveillance activities organized through the national surveillance working group of the national Polio EOC as the need arises  

Routine immunization activities:

Strengthening routine immunization (RI) system:  

• Provide technical support to SERICC in coordination, planning and monitoring RI activities.  
• Ensure LGAs updated quarterly REW micro-plans and submit electronic versions to the states for tracking of its operationalization with at least 4 fixed and 4 outreach sessions a month form each health facility.  
• Supervise and support the conduct of RI sessions and provide on-the-job training/mentoring of LGA teams and service RI providers.  
• Support New vaccine introduction activities from the pre, intra to post implementation phases.  
• Support special RI interventions to ensure quality plans are developed and implemented.  
• Provide support to State/LGAs to identify and reach Zero dose children in prioritized LGAs and monitor targeted interventions to measure improvement.  
• Support RI related capacity building activities in the state.  
• Promptly work with states to identify and resolve challenges in the implementation of RI activities.  
• Coordinate the activities of NSLOs and supervise their support to the LGAs  
• Provide support for monthly/quarterly review of key RI indicators and work with states to identify and resolve challenges support the development of mitigation plans and its implementation to improve vaccination coverage.  

Measles:

• Provide support to measles surveillance in line with strategic Measles Elimination Initiative  
• Case identification and reporting  
• Case investigation with sample collection  
• Outbreak response  
• Data management  
• Support measles SIAs  
• Planning and coordination of pre-campaign activities  
• Micro-planning development and verification  
• Intra-campaign monitoring with support to vaccination team members and Data management  
• Post campaign activities (Vaccine retrieval, Tally sheet analysis, waste management etc)  

Data/DHIS2:

• Provide technical oversight to the AFENET data manager supporting the polio ECO  
• Ensure data manager supports all data management activities pre, intra and post campaigns  
• Support the review of monthly RI data performance feedback developed by the DHIS2 FP  
• Support the data manager to follow up with the state on addressing data reporting/quality gaps identified  
• Work with data manager to strengthen NSLOs capacity on data management  
• Share monthly DHIS2 RI data quality performance feedback to stakeholders at the state level and NSLOs  
• Follow up with NSLOs on reporting of covid-19 AEFIs on the DHIS2 AEFI module from trained health facilities  

Qualifications

Certifications, license, Physical Requirements or Other Expertise Required:

• Education: Advanced Degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Policy, Allied health, Veterinary Science, Biostatistics or other related field.  
• Pre-requisite: post-graduate training through a field epidemiology training program or the Epidemic intelligence Service (EIS).  
• The incumbent must have Nigeria field experience in vaccine preventable disease activities. Recent graduates of the NFELTP program will be preferred.  

Knowledge Requirements:

Language proficiency in English Knowledge of Hausa is an added advantage.  

Job knowledge:

Strong technical knowledge in public health, epidemiology, routine immunization, SIAs, disease outbreak investigation, data collection and management and data analysis.  

Skills and Abilities:

• Skills in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Access
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills
• Ability to clearly communicate orally and in writing
• Ability to engage in successful interaction; extensive contact with members of national and local partner organizations (WHO, UNICEF, Ministries of Health)  

Application Closing Date

15th August, 2023.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified candidates should:

Click here to apply online

Click here for more information

Note

• Candidates should click the application link above and submit their applications including CV and Motivation letter.
• Candidates should indicate the appropriate position in their application letter.
• AFENET is an equal opportunity employer.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.  

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