Emergency Health Officer 111 views

Organization Background

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. IRC has been working in Ethiopia since 1999 and is implementing integrated, community-managed programs aimed at improving the quality of lives and recover of livelihood of disaster-affected population’s through promoting individual participation, strengthening institutions and emergency response.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

The IRC health program in Ethiopia currently implements activities in different settings: Emergency Response Mechanism (ERM), a refugee health program that is involved in delivery of community based reproductive health services in 7 refugee camps as well as HIV/AIDS prevention activities in 8 refugee camps; Sexual and reproductive health projects in Oromia and a child survival community based treatment program in the Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz. Community surveillance of Vaccine preventable diseases and priority zoonotic diseases in same regions above including Gambella. Currently IRC started a new project funded by EUTF (EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa) aiming at Promoting stability and strengthening basic service delivery for host communities, refugees, and other displaced population in Gambella National Regional State of Ethiopia.

Scope:

Emergency Health Officer is responsible for proper implementation of Emergency Health response project at woreda level. The position needs strong communication, coordination, and representation with host government Zonal, Woreda health structures and partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct all activities planned under the project in a timely manner and in accordance with the budget allocated.
• Liaises and creates strong linkages between zonal health department, Woreda Health Office, health facilities and Woreda stakeholders in the targeted area.
• Monitor and Implement the project activities as per the plan and provide project data for timely decision making.
• Ensure that emergency health intervention is in accordance with IRC and government guidelines and provide technical support for gov’t health care providers.
• Identify and involve all key stakeholders in the woreda on a regular basis and support woreda health office in strengthening surveillance system at facility and community level.
• Represent IRC and participate in woreda level meetings and participate in health assessments in assigned woreda when needed.
• Provide support in developing and implementation of a community-based communication strategy (IEC/BCC)
• Provide medical consultations for health professionals in health facilities on different health activities such as Nutrition.
• Support and monitor preventive health services (routine immunization, deworming).
• Strengthen the referral linkage with the Health facility at community level in the respective woreda.
• Work closely with IPs to ensure integrated approach in program implementation in his/her woreda.
• Provide and/or facilitate trainings and workshops as per the project work plan.
• Provide coaching and supportive supervision for health facilities on quality of service.
• Ensure the proper distribution and use of different items, non-medical equipment, supplies and essential drugs to health facilities.
• Routinely collect, compile, and organize data from monitoring and supervision activities and translate data into reports to be submitted to IRC field office regularly.

Grant Management

• Assist the Health Manager in managing program grant
• Follow all IRC’S standard grant Management tools
• Raise PRs as required after discussion with colleagues.
• Track woreda level expenditure monthly and report appropriately. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

• In collaboration with Health manager, evaluate the effectiveness of the program and recommend changes in goals, objectives, intervention strategies, measurable outputs, and timelines.
• Produce monthly and /or quarterly activity reports and submit to IRC Field office.
• Ensure that all tools and formats are properly prepared, recorded and kept.
• Proper documentation of data at Health facility and woreda level

Other duties

• Any other relevant activities or duties as deemed by supervisor.

• BSC in public health, Nursing or Midwifery with at least three years working experience.
• Two years relevant experience plus post graduate degree.
• NGO experience a plus.
• Good project management skills, ability to plan, organize and monitoring of implementation of emergency health services.
• Demonstrable experience in working with communities in participatory approaches and capacity building of health centers.

Personal specifications

• Ability to work under pressure in remote areas long work hours and high workload.
• Excellent communication skills-verbal and written ones.
• Self-motivated, honest, highly responsible, and punctual.
• Ability to work as part of a team as well as to work autonomously when required.
• Ability to constructively address gaps and weaknesses.