Technical Officer

The purpose of the post is to provide technical support to the Member States in the area of Poliovirus Containment in implementing poliovirus containment measures within a framework of the Global Poliovirus Eradication Initiative in the WHO European Region. Poliovirus containment implementation is one of the critical elements of post-polio eradication era and Polio Post-certification strategy to ensure the risk of any facility-related poliovirus escape and re-introduction into a polio-free world is mitigated to the maximum extent possible. Key duties: Update regional inventory data based on the data received from Member States and keep national inventories of facilities handling/storing poliovirus infectious materials updated and verified in accordance with global containment requirements and implementation timeframe. Liaise with National Poliovirus Containment Coordinators to ensure poliovirus-related risk mitigation for facilities handling/storing poliovirus potentially infectious materials including those directly involved in polio eradication programme and beyond such as Measles and Rubella, Rotavirus surveillance, and other public health areas. Work closely with a respective National Authority for Containment and WHO/HQ Poliovirus Containment Team in the event of a reported containment breach in a facility to ensure that the event is investigated, and appropriate response measures are taken in close collaboration with the GCC Containment Working Group in terms of the Containment Certification status for such facility. Provide technical support (as a secretariat) in reviewing the Annual Progress Reports on Polio Eradication Activities submitted by Member States to the Regional Commission for Certification of Polio Eradication (RCC), reporting review results and containment-related risk assessment to the RCC. Work with National Authorities for Containment to facilitate the process of Containment Certification for facilities that will retain poliovirus infectious materials after polio eradication. Provide technical support into development of training courses, simulation exercises on poliovirus containment as required, including new reporting templates/tools. Provide technical support in areas including the monitoring of poliovirus isolation events in the Region and maintaining of a respective database, collaboration with the European Polio Laboratory Network to ensure timely reporting, collaboration with national immunization programmed to properly assess the risk of poliovirus reintroduction in case of poliovirus importation or containment breach, etc., as needed and required. Ensure poliovirus containment is appropriately addressed by the WHO/Europe communication channels; work with communication team to timely update the content for WHO/Europe poliovirus containment webpage. Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor(s).
Required Qualifications:
Education:
Essential:

Language Skills:
Essential: