Vacancy Announcement for Hospital Preparedness Officer

Position: Hospital Preparedness Officer (Roster) – (2201173)  
Grade: No grade
Contractual Arrangement: Special Services Agreement (SSA)
Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days): The duration of the contract will depend on the needs of the functions.

Job Posting: Feb 17, 2022, 10:29:14 AM

Closing Date: Mar 10, 2022, 4:44:00 AM

Primary Location: Nepal

Organization: SE_NEP WR Office, Nepal

Schedule: Full-time  
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that the deadline for receipt of applications indicated above reflects your personal device’s system settings. ..

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The purpose of this vacancy is to develop a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in this advertised roster for WHO Health Emergency Programme (WHE), Nepal. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for the assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection to a SSA contract. There is no commitment on either side.

Objective of the Programme:

The objective of the WHO Nepal Country Office is to implement the Country Cooperation Strategy by supporting the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Government of Nepal (GoN) in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of national health policies, strategies and plans and developing and managing WHO’s technical cooperation programmes at the country level. The Country Office collaborates with the Government of Nepal and relevant stakeholders in support of their efforts of achieving national health goals; of ensuring the attainment of universal health coverage and of contributing to global and regional public health action by providing need-based technical assistance in national level policy formulation, setting norms and standards, improving knowledge dissemination and management, monitoring country health situation and building sustainable institutional capacity, to play a greater leadership role in different national level policy technical forums. WHO provides guidance and technical support in organizing the humanitarian health response following multi-hazard emergencies and in revitalizing the capacity of the health sector to recover and rebuild from emergencies in appropriate and sustainable ways. In the inter-emergency period the objectives are to increase the capacity and resilience of the Nepal Health System to reduce risk, prevent and prepare for disasters, to mitigate adverse health consequences, through supporting the Emergency Risk Management interventions prioritized in the national plan for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030); and the health security interventions for enhancement of core capacities required to comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 as prioritized in the National Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS), National Action Plan on Anti-Microbial Resistance (NAP-AMR) and National Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan (NPPRP).WHO strives to integrate and harmonize the actions undertaken for enhanced ERM and Health Security with the interventions implemented to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and health systems strengthening through appropriate capacity building and co-ordination mechanisms and partnerships. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE) supports the MoHP, GoN to direct and coordinate the rapid provision of life-saving emergency health interventions at scale in the aftermath of multi-hazard emergencies and disasters and subsequently assists in the rapid recovery of the health system in collaboration with national and international partners. Thereupon it provides technical support to the MoHP and partners to enhance health sector emergency risk management through prevention risk reduction or mitigation; preparedness and response readiness to build a health system that is resilient to multi-hazard disasters including public health emergencies.

Summary of Assigned Duties:

Under the overall supervision of WHO Representative and Team Leader – WHO Health Emergencies Programme; in close coordination with the relevant Technical Officers and the direct supervision of National Professional Officer (IHM) of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme of the WHO Country Office for Nepal, the Hospital Preparedness Officer will perform the below functions:

1. Collate detailed information on the availability of hospital readiness or contingency plans and support to update or revise existing document as required.

2.Facilitate preparation or update of Hospital Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan and support its implementation (which may include Mass Casualty Management topic, Infectious Hazard topic, Contingency measures, or conduct of simulation exercises or Simex).

3.Liaise among central and Provincial Hospitals, Hub and Satellite Hospital Networks, respective Provincial Health Emergency Operation Centers (PHEOCs) and Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), teleconsultation center, and follow up on ‘red flagged’ services in hospitals and support smooth onward referral for COVID-19 patients or during Mass Casualties and other public health emergencies.

4.Facilitate hospitals to maintain hospital surveillance including collection of epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data, and ensure regular reporting through identified focal points.

5.Facilitate sample collection, data collection and testing of samples for disease of public health concern in coordination with National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and Provincial Public Health Laboratories (PPHLs).

6.Support Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to monitor COVID-19 and other priority infectious diseases and respective case management-related activities, as well as Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)-related activities and overall readiness in the hub and satellite hospital networks:

a. Support in development or implementation of existing related SoPs.

b.Support in ensuring guidance documents are present and translated into practice

c.Support to develop or enhance monitoring of IPC activities at the facility level

d.Support monitoring of PPE inventory and facilitate requirement forecast prioritizing during a specific emergency response

e.Support in the appropriate use of PPE among health personnel and trainings where needed.

7.Support MoHP and respective ministries of provinces governing health to monitor clinical best  practices and readiness.

8.Facilitate monitoring emergency service availability (Human resources for Health, Bed, Oxygen, Ventilators, ICU etc.) at health facility level and report back to respective PHEOCs and HEOC.

9.Support Hub and satellite hospital network coordination and preparedness in:

a. Resource mapping following an all-hazards approach for preparedness.

b. Regular hub and satellite hospital network coordination meeting and report to respective PHEOCs and HEOC.

c. Mapping, orientation, and deployment of Emergency Medical Deployment Teams (EMDTs) as per SoP for EMDTs.

d. Supply chain management of critical medical supplies for emergency preparedness and response.

10.Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Team Lead-WHE and WHO Representative. This includes duty travel or duty-station reassignment on short notice as per the program requirements.

Qualification:

Education:

Essential: MedicalGraduate from an institution recognized by Nepal Medical Council with valid registration in the Nepal Medical Council.

Desirable: Post graduate qualification in public health, crisis management, emergency /disaster response or related field.

Experience

Essential: Minimum two years of relevant experience.

Desirable: Experience in field of epidemiological investigation or emergency/disaster response.

Functional Skills and knowledge: 

• In-depth knowledge of the key health security risks; situations, needs and priorities in all-hazards public health emergency preparedness, and response.
• Ability to generate options, decide, prioritize, execute and multi-task under pressure.
• Excellent analytical skills, strategic thinking and good judgment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, discretion and diplomacy.
• Ability to effectively work with government, development partners/donors and collaborating agencies.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to write clearly and concisely and give technical advice and guidance taking into consideration the views of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-limited contexts.
• Technical expertise: Overall attitude at work is also required mandatory competencies.
• Good knowledge in outbreak response, disease control and emergency risk management in the health sector.

Other skills:

• Proficiency in Statistical/ Epidemiological Analysis software desired.
• Proficiency in knowledge of computer applications and software including MS Office applications (specifically excel, word and ppt.), Internet and Email is essential.
• Ability to coordinate with the government, manage projects, build partnerships with multiple partners in the context of health emergencies.

WHO Competencies:

• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Ensuring the effective use of resources
• Producing results

Use of Language Skills: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Nepali.

REMUNERATION:

Monthly Salary: (Net of tax) NPR Rs 196,102.00 (Level VIII / Step I) at single rate (taxable as per Nepal Government laws and appointment will be through Special Services Agreement, SSA)

Grade: Level VIII (Step I)

Duty Station: Anywhere in Nepal

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This Vacancy Notice may be used to fill similar positions at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test and interviews will be used as a form of screening

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

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