Epidemiologist – MEET Project 18 views

The main purpose of the Position

Defining, coordinating and monitoring the epidemiological activities, ensuring the development of appropriate methodology and the quality of studies according to MSF protocols, standards and procedures in order to identify risk factors for diseases and to determine the optimal treatment approaches to clinical practice and the preventive medicine to be used in the missions.

Accountabilities

• Defining, scheduling and organizing, in close collaboration with other medical team members, the annual epidemiological activity plan, in order to improve early detection of risk factors to better define treatment approaches and preventive practices. Leading the implementation of the protocols and epidemiological methodology, ensuring all related staff follows them in order to improve research efficiency.
• Supervising, according to annual plan, the epidemiological research activity ensuring that contacts with community groups and authorities are aligned with the objectives of the research and that the population participating in the research is properly informed. Reporting on the progress of data collection, on ongoing analysis of research or on any issue causing delay, in order to achieve epidemiological goals on time.
• Advising the MSF medical team on epidemiological matters that arise in the course of their activity research, and when necessary, designing and implementing epidemiological tools and data collection to meet new epidemiological needs.
• Ensuring, in coordination with logistics department, that national or international shipment of laboratory samples acquired for research purposes is done within datelines and according to protocols, following security rules and keeping conditions needed for the sample.
• Supervising data filing procedures, ensuring that all epidemiology software tools are properly used and are updated regularly, in order to ensure full data traceability and availability.
• Supervising, in close coordination with the Logistic Manager that research equipment and materials are properly maintained, and stock level is above minimum point in order to ensure availability and research activity continuity.
• Participating in operational monthly reports and organizing and/or assisting medical staff in preparing epidemiological reports related to health facilities and to researched areas.

MSF Section/Context-Specific Accountabilities

• Set up and investigate alerts, maintain an alert management system.
• Participate to needs/health assessments.
• Disease Surveillance: Monitor the incidence and prevalence of diseases or health conditions in the country & affected population.
• Establishing networking with the district, zonal, and regional health offices, particularly with the public health emergency response department.
• Participated in regional and zonal cluster meetings on nutrition and health and shared the minutes with the coordination.
• Epidemiological modelling: analyze seasonality, trends and future predictions of notifiable diseases of public health importance as part of Emergency strategy.
• Outbreak Investigation and control including performing case investigation, implementing linelists, mapping and visualization during assessment/Explo and response phase.
• Risk Assessment: Assess the risk of disease transmission and other health threats within the affected population.
• Data Collection: Design, train relevant people, and implement data collection systems during the emergency intervention and on the emergency’s impact, including demographics, clinical data, and exposure history during.
• Ensure data quality in collaboration with the medical focal person.
• In collaboration with PMR in the field, provide strategic recommendations based on epidemiological analysis and data for decision making. & provide technical advice to the PC and PMR on Epi projection linked to specific disease outbreaks for strategy adaptation.
• Epidemiological Studies: Conduct epidemiological studies to understand epidemiological dynamics (e.g. vaccination coverage, mortality or KAP surveys) when required.
• Conduct Post-emergency evaluations or surveys & Communication of public health findings to relevant authorities in collaboration with the PMR.

The position holder may be asked to take up additional duties/ hold another position for purposes of Emergency Intervention.

Education:

• Medical doctor, nurse or clinical officer background with master of Epidemiology or general public health.
• Desirable specialization or training in tropical diseases.
• Desirable graduated on Field Epidemiology.
• Computer literacy (MS Office Suite) and an analytical/statistical software (Epi-Info, STATA, R, etc.

Experience:

• Working experience of at least three years in epidemiology related jobs and in outbreak response, working experience with MSF or similar humanitarian NGOs.

Knowledge:

• Essential computer literacy (word, excel, Internet/social media).
• Desirable knowledge of DHIS2, QGIS, Osmand, PowerBI, KoboCollect, ODK, Red-Cap.

Competencies:

• People Management and Development L2
• Commitment to MSF Principles L2
• Behavioural Flexibility L3
• Results and Quality Orientation L3
• Teamwork and Cooperation L3

Language: Essential English level C1 and other local language