District Public Health Officer

Under the technical supervision of WHO International Focal Person and the National Team Leader for polio eradication and the overall supervision of the WHO Representative, the Public Health Officer will be responsible of all the public health related activities in the assigned district(s) and will undertake the following duties:

Roles and Responsibilities

Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response

1. Support district health authorities in ensuring that there is a system in place for comprehensive AFP, measles, COVID-19 and other VPD detection and response.
2. Complement district health authorities / staff efforts to ensure timely investigation of all AFP, other VPD and COVID-19 cases including timely stool / other samples collection and transportation and appropriate actions are undertaken in response to the surveillance findings.
3. Undertake regular site visits to reporting sites to ensure that no AFP cases are missed/ not reported as well as reporting any found missed AFP and other VPD cases, investigated and respond appropriately
4. Facilitate that all data from AFP cases, VPD and COVID-19 are properly collected, line-listed, analyzed and interpreted timely; and forwarded to regional and state office.
5. Regularly monitor the quality of surveillance data in the district(s) of responsibility.
6. Participate in detailed epidemiological investigations of urgent (hot), confirmed and compatible polio cases and AFP cases, other VDPS and COVID-19 cases.
7. Participate in training for health care workers on AFP and other disease surveillance.
8. Assist in ensuring inclusion of all high risk/ underserved/ migrant population in the Surveillance network and all cases are reported from them.
9. Ensure supervision and support of the VPVs and TPVs in your district ensuring that they are strategically placed

Supplemental Vaccination Campaigns (SIA)

1. Provide technical support to pre-campaign activities particularly planning, preparing, and monitoring the quality of area level Micro-planning, at the team, DFA and districts levels for Polio and integrated campaigns
2. Monitor the availability of human and material resources and provide necessary support to augment them.
3. Ensure selection of appropriate vaccinators and supervisors according to the guidelines
4. Monitor and support the trainings in the pre-campaign phase; for various categories of health workers involved in vaccination and supervision.
5. Monitor and supervise the work of all categories of health workers during the Implementation phase of the campaign and share the key observations and recommendations / action points with responsible authorities on daily basis.
6. Monitor the utilization of resources and report issue, if any.
7. Thorough analysis of the post campaign independent monitoring data after every vaccination round to: a) making corrective measures as per guidelines; b) identifying the issues to be addressed before the following vaccination round and c) reporting to, and organize revaccination activities where required.
8. Support the DMO in analyzing the vaccination and (administrative and monitoring) data and modify operations if needed.
9. Prepare a report for the Regional and State level on the campaigns
10. Provide special focus on the high-risk populations during all the phases of the campaign in line with the special strategies

Routine EPI

1. Assist in the various aspects to ensure development, strengthening maintenance, and monitoring of routine EPI.
2. Conduct weekly supervisory visits to EPI centers ensuring smooth running of activities – Reporting any gaps immediately to the DMO and RMO
3. Support the Health facilities with EPI services to make Health facility, RED and REC microplans and monitor performance
4. Ensure and advocate for outreach sessions in all areas with no health facilities or areas whether health facilities are far from populations

Education

Essential: Health, social sciences degree or related health fields

Desirable: A post graduate degree in public health,

Experience

Minimum Three years of relevant experience in the field of immunization, epidemiology or other health-related field. Experience with working for iNGO and NGOS required.

Local Knowledge

The officer MUST be from the local area and have good working relationship with the authorities and good social relationship with the community and elders

Skills

Computer literacy, included working knowledge of MS Office

Report writing

Competencies

Communicating in a credible way

Transfers skills and knowledge to others and ensures objectives are met; mentors colleagues to achieve results

Maintains integrity and takes a clear ethical approach and stance; is accountable for work carried out in line with own role-and-responsibilities

Works collaboratively with team members and counterparts to achieve results

Shares information openly with colleagues and transfers knowledge, as needed

Encourages and motivates colleagues to achieve individual and team’s objectives

Manages stress positively; remains positive and productive even under pressure

Acts proactively and stimulates action as needed

Quickly and effectively adapts own work approach in response to new demands and changing priorities

Resets priorities in response to unexpected circumstances

Maintains confidentiality and treats sensitive information with discretion