Infectious Hazard Management (IHM) Officer

at  World Health Organization

Grade: NO-C
Contractual Arrangement: Fixed-term appointment
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): 2 YEARS
Job Posting: Jun 12, 2024, 7:35:59 AM
Closing Date: Jul 3, 2024, 4:59:00 PM
Primary Location: South Africa-Pretoria
Organization: AF_ZAF South Africa
Schedule: Full-time
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATIONEssential: Advanced university degree(Master’s level or above) in medicine, public health, or health related field from an accredited/recognized institute
Desirable: Specialized training inepidemiology. Specialized training ininfectious diseases.
EXPERIENCEEssential: At least five (5) years of international and/or national professional experience in planning, developing and implementing thecontrol and prevention of infectious diseases programme including outbreakprevention and control, infectious hazard management and/or dangerous pathogens.Relevant experience with the inter-agency mechanisms used to coordinate international preparedness for and response to health emergencies
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries

SKILLS

Demonstrated knowledge of infectious diseases, particularly in those areas critical for promoting a public health perspective and approach, such as infectious disease epidemiology, prevention or control, clinical management, and significant practical application of this knowledge in an international context. Proven ability to coordinate and manage projects, build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies. Sound tactical thinking with ability to formulate clear comprehensive strategies and plans. Demonstrated organizational skills with ability to multi-task and consistently produce results even underpressure

Advise on the development, implementation and evaluation of the national strategies and work-plans pertaining to the prevention and control of high threat diseases of pandemic & epidemic potential or infectious risks and the implementation of evidence-based strategies to manage infectious hazards, interventions in high-risks groups and recommend measures for special attention, ensuring compliance with organization-wide IHM strategies.In close collaboration with the risk assessment, health information management and other teams in HQ and the respective Regional Office, monitor the early prevention, detection, verification, assessment, and investigation of any risks of outbreaks and the dissemination of data related to the occurrence of outbreaks. In collaboration with preparedness and readiness teams, undertake the following for infectious risks of epidemic and pandemic potential: timely readiness assessments guided by the epidemics calendar,develop and test (through simulations) hazard specific contingency plans and pandemic preparedness plans and standard operating procedures. Adapt IHM global policies, concepts, tools, and strategies and managetheir implementation at the country level, for the prevention and, where feasible, elimination of diseases/epidemic risks. Work with partners, to improve approaches and methods of controlling epidemics in different epidemiological situations.Conduct the periodic reporting of infectious hazards activities, support the information systems and the monitoring facilitating integration with the national health information systems, as required. Contribute to the surveillance and risk analysis of infectious diseases;participate in the rapid response teams responsible for the rapid investigation of alerts, field risk assessments and early detection and response. Ensure that risk communication messages are technically sound and socio-culturally appropriate to induce, engage and empower stakeholders in the prevention, mitigation and control of infectious hazards.Make recommendations and give guidance on relevant courses of actions to be taken in affected as well as non-affected areas in order to prevent and/or control cause of excess morbidity and mortality.Support research, innovative tools, products, and interventions available for high threat infectious hazards in collaboration with teams atcountry, regional, and headquarters level.Ensure that proven, evidence-based effective strategies for priority pandemic/ epidemic prone diseases are implemented at scale. In close collaboration with other technical teams, provide technical assistance on vaccination, enhanced collaborative surveillance, emergency coordination, scalable clinical care, infection control (including personal protection), community protection including community engagement and risk communication, enhanced sanitation and hygiene, increased provision of water and/or nutrients, prepositioning of drugs and medical supplies, vector control, and increasing access to other countermeasures. Request the activation of technical experts networks at global or regional level to characterize the pathogen and the disease in case of unknown infection. Represent the Country Office at official meetings as needed. Perform any other related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.