Background

The International Health regulations (IHR 2005) Joint External Evaluation (JEE) coordinated by WHO that assessed multiple technical fields in Ghana identified areas for support in public health emergency preparedness. Some of the key recommendations include strengthening mechanisms for responding to infectious and potential zoonotic diseases; strengthening systems for detecting and responding to chemical events/emergencies; and enhance national public health to include outbreaks of foodborne diseases.

Implementing these recommendations will help to achieve IHR core capacities and advance health security. The WCO in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health funding, is supporting capacity building in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Reporting (IDSR), One-Health, management of chemical events and strengthening laboratory specimen transport.

Consequently, more than ever, technical support from the WHO Country Office (WCO) in Ghana and partners is needed to assist the Ministry of Health/Ghana Health Service (MOH/GHS) Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Wildlife Division of the Forestry Department, Ministry of Environment and relevant agencies to strengthen capacity in preparedness, prevention and response activities.

Purpose

The main purpose of this Special Service Agreement is to recruit a technical officer to support the country to improve the capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health events.

Tasks/roles

In close collaboration with technical counterparts in WHO and in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service/Ministry of Health, the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Wildlife Division of the Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), CDC and relevant partners in the country, the technical officer will assist in the following areas:

IHR, IDSR and Laboratory Strengthening

• Support capacity building and the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) in Ghana.
• Provide support to the MOH/GHS in prevention, control, implementation, monitoring of disease surveillance including IDSR training
• Contribute to the analysis and reporting of national health data and other public health knowledge in order to give evidence-based advice to the national Ghanaian authorities.
• Assist with methodological expertise in epidemiology, statistics and public health and data reporting.
• Support with the organisation and facilitation of workshops/simulation exercises in Ghana.

One health

• Foster collaboration and capacity building in the One Health concept

Chemical events

• Support the Ghana Health Service’s Poison Control Centre to build capacity chemical event preparedness in Ghana.

Laboratory strengthening

• Provide support for activities to improve the public specimen referral and transportation system.

Duration: Twelve months

Competencies

• Producing results;
• Communicating in a credible and effective way;
• Fostering integration and teamwork;
• Knowing and managing yourself

Functional Skills and Knowledge

• Project management skills, including knowledge and experience from project development and managerial skills;
• Experience with research activities is desirable;
• Language skills, fluent in English written and spoken;
• A good working relationship/experience with the MOH, GHS will be an advantage.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education (Qualification)

• Essential: University degree in Medicine or Public Health or Epidemiology or other related field
• Desirable: Post graduate training of Master’s Degree in public health / community health / epidemiology/ statistics;

Experience

• Have at least 7 years’ experience in the field of health preparedness and response activities
• Experience analysing epidemiological data, statistics and methodology;

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

To submit your application, click on the link below and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.

Click Here To Apply Online

Closing Date: 14 August, 2018