Posted on: Fri 03-03-2023

International Medical Corps is a global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and Nurses, International Medical Corps is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities worldwide. By offering training and health care to local populations and medical assistance to people at the highest risk, and with the flexibility to respond rapidly to emergency situations, International Medical Corps rehabilitates devastated health care systems and helps bring them back to self-reliance.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Surveillance Officer

Location: Kano

Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• The Surveillance Officers will join our team in Kano office, Nigeria to effectively manage Surveillance and Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) activities in the state.
• He/she will work closely with the local implementing partners, surveillance working groups both at the states and also CGPP secretariat, The Surveillance Officer is expected to provide strategic and technical leadership to district teams.
• The incumbent to this post would be specifically accountable for: the management and oversight of all surveillance/GHSA-related activities and associated databases, as well as other specialized surveillance systems; and, ensuring full implementation of the Surveillance-specific Work Plan.
• He/she will work closely with the State Manager, Communication officer, MEAL officer and COVID-19 officer to ensure efficient and effective communication in the implementation of the Surveillance activities in the state.

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate CGPP state/LGA activities in all aspects of surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) and GHSA in the community
• To plan and conduct regular/periodic field supervision visits to LGA of concern to assess and evaluate the implementation of surveillance activities, identify gaps and recommend corrective actions based on key performance indicators.
• To assure a line-list of AFP cases is maintained by each LGA and an updated list is sent to the State each week, and that a computerized line-list of all cases from each LGA is maintained in the state and provided to the national level weekly.
• Work closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and other GHS stakeholders at the state and local government levels to process, analyze, and use One Health/GHS information to assess trends of different activities, make necessary adjustments and improve management of the GHS project within CGPP.
• Collaborate with stakeholders for the implementation of appropriate GHS CBS tools necessary to improve community-based zoonotic disease surveillance
• Represent CGPP-GHS at the state relevant outbreak preparedness and response planning activities.
• To conduct monthly/quarterly meetings with LGACs, some of which may include the participation of State Surveillance Officers.
• Participate in meetings of the state surveillance stakeholders to review AFP cases.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of AFP surveillance training workshops within the state for Ministry of Health staff, NGOs and LGA level.
• Strengthen the capacities of the surveillance teams for the effective and sustained surveillance of epidemic prone diseases through training courses on field investigation, detection, data management, and rapid response to epidemics and health outbreaks.
• Coordinate and manage surveillance activities to support the State Epidemiologist and the Disease Surveillance Notification Officer Coordinator.
• Assist in maintaining regular contact with the partner organizations and/or bodies for AFP surveillance.
• Organize meetings with community informant and other relevant community stakeholders to improve awareness on AFP surveillance.
• Support training and supervision of VCMs and Community Informants and agents working under the polio and COVID19 project.
• Support the MEAL Officers and State Manager to effectively collect, collate and report surveillance data as required.
• Collaborate with State Team Lead, MEAL Officer and State Communication officer to ensure documentation of all community surveillance activities.
• To collect, review and analyse the monthly reports of field technical staff and provide summaries to the LGACs and technical feedback to the report originators.
• Prepare and submit timely and quality activity reports, including field notes and success stories, to effectively capture lessons learnt on the ground from the projects.
• The Surveillance officers will use his/her expertise to actively participate in strengthening the efforts to improve the vaccination coverage of target children through supplemental immunization campaigns conducted in the LGA specifically include: Technical input for planning, supervision, and monitoring of LGA Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) required for polio eradication, including National Immunization Days (NIDs), mopping-up campaigns, outbreak response vaccination and COVID19.
• Perform any other related duties as requested by the supervisor(s).

Ethical Conduct for IMC Staff:

• The International Medical Corps maintains a code of standards of conduct that shall govern the performances of its employees engaged in the award and administration of contracts. No employee, officer, or agent shall participate in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported /by donor funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest would be involved.
• Such a conflict would arise when the employee, officer, or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization, which employs or is about to employ any of the parties indicated above, has a financial or other interest in the firm selected for an award. IMC officers, employees, or agents shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, or parties to sub-agreements. These standards shall provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by IMC officers, employees, or agents.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within International Medical Corps and amongst beneficiaries served by International Medical Corps and Any other duties that may be assigned from time by supervisors

Qualifications and Experience

• First Degree in Field Epidemiology, Social Science or Public Health – Essential
• Master’s Degree in Public Health will be an added advantage.
• Strong technical knowledge in public health, epidemiology, infectious disease surveillance, disease outbreak investigation and data management, including analysis and interpretation of infectious disease surveillance data.
• At least 4 years related experience, at the state levels required, of which 3 years should be specific to surveillance of infectious diseases and other vaccine preventable diseases.
• Efficient use of computer software applications, including: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Epi Info or similar software.
• Understanding of local communities and cultures in the relevant states of operations and ability to communicate fluently in Hausa.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to travel and work in difficult settings, including remote rural areas of Nigeria.
• Well-organized, with ability to track multiple activities and deadlines.
• Experience in providing administrative support to work teams.
• Ability to work successfully in cross-cultural, team-based environment.

Application Closing Date

13th March, 2023.

Method of Application

Interested and qualified Applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Coordinator, via: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

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