National Professional Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objective of the program is for WHO to collaborate with the Government and relevant stakeholders within the framework of the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) and Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) in boosting the quality of care, data tracking, accountability and governance, and service delivery to significantly reducing burden related to malaria and other vector-borne diseases; The South Sudan WCO supports the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of National Health strategies, develops and manages the Organization’s program of technical co-operation at country level and coordinates the Organization’s activities with those of other collaborators and with the Government’s National Health Program. The vision of the National Malaria Strategic Plan 2021-2025 is “a malaria-free South Sudan” to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality by 80% of 2019 levels and parasite prevalence by 50% of the 2017 level by 2025. Specifically, the plan seeks: To strengthen and sustain the management and coordination of the malaria program at all levels by 2025; To protect 85% of the population at risk by recommended malaria prevention methods by 2025; To achieve 100% parasitological diagnosis and treatment of all presenting malaria cases according to the national guidelines by 2025; To increase to at least 80% community and health worker knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention and control by 2025; To strengthen malaria emergency preparedness and timely response in all communities affected by conflict, natural disasters, or epidemics by 2025; To ensure that 80% of health facilities routinely report on core malaria indicators by 2025. The 2024 activities will include the implementation of the activities under the new GFATM grant GC7.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• Under the supervision and guidance of the technical team lead the incumbent provides support in the following areas;
• Serves as WHO focal point for malaria prevention and control activities within the large context of Roll Back Malaria development in the country and provides support to all relevant government departments and institutions.
• Protect people living in malaria risk areas through access to appropriate malaria preventive interventions; effectively manage all suspected malaria cases; establish systems to accelerate malaria elimination in targeted counties & states; to increase utilization of appropriate malaria interventions; to strengthen malaria surveillance and use of the malaria information.
• Provide strategic leadership, engaging in partnerships and shaping the research agenda towards strengthening the capacity of the national program to reduce vector-borne disease burden; Provide leadership and management for malaria control in South Sudan.
• Monitor to understand vector bionomics and response to interventions, including resistance to insecticides. Updates local information to inform vector control and identify challenges to its effectiveness such as insecticide resistance and residual parasite transmission. (Conduct vector susceptibility to insecticides and track Anopheles stephensi – Information essential for decision making on type of insecticide and interventions to roll out).
• Establish entomological sentinel sites and insectaries, for entomological monitoring Surveys and coordinate with vector control sub-directorate and related partners including technical working groups and expert committees for supporting entomology and vector control activities including monitoring insecticide resistance, integrated vector management, and other malaria vector activities.
• Monitor drug efficacy to detect possible drug failure; Monitor of diagnostic performance of RDTs; conduct subnational tailoring and stratification for targeted interventions; provide technical support during malaria indicator surveys; and quality assurance for malaria diagnosis and treatment.
• Develop an investment case for malaria in South Sudan for resource mobilization.
• Conduct advocacy meetings for mobilization for more resources for malaria with Legislators; government ownership and increased resources for health8. Train and build capacity for the malaria program at the national, state, and county levels with a focus on the five key thematic areas: program management, vector control (support the implementation of vector control activities such as LLIN, IRS, and larval source Management), case management, social behavioral change, and M & E.
• Review, analyze, and provide regular information and data on the progress of malaria and vector-borne diseases’ elimination; surveillance performance; scaling up of new vaccines in the country; and monthly routine data.
• Harmonize and lead capacity building for research evidence generation.
• Technically reviews contractual proposals, makes recommendations to the supervisor regarding WHO’s support, and undertakes necessary activities for mobilizing necessary resources for implementation of work plans
• Monitors utilization of malaria supplies and equipment, including the rationale use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests, antimalarial drugs, insecticide-treated net, and other malaria commodities supported by WHO, GFATM, PMI, and other partners.
• Review and track the progress of overall activity and budget implementation and prepare quality-assured technical and financial reports to be submitted to partners.
• Participates in joint planning and reporting in line with WHO procedures, including submissions of monthly progress reports to WR through the 1st level supervisor.
• Any other duties assigned by the WHO representative. Perform any other activities as assigned by the Head of Country Office and Senior Management

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential: First university degree in Medicine, Public health, or Epidemiology.
• Desirable: Doctorate in Medicine, Post-graduate training in public health, tropical medicine, or epidemiology (with specialization on malaria and vector-borne diseases).

Experience

• Essential: At least five (05) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of malaria, tropical medicine, or vector-borne diseases in planning, implementing, and monitoring-evaluation of disease prevention and control activities
• Desirable: Experience in the field of malaria, NTDs, and NCD control would be an asset Within this experience demonstrated professional experience at the international level providing support to Member States and evaluating malaria and vector-borne diseases programs. Work experience within international organizations or UN systems is an asset. First-hand working experience in a developing nation or working with bilateral or multilateral organizations in the country would be an asset