914 views9 applications

National Surveillance Consultant, 6 months, Tripoli, Libya, WHO

NOTE: For Libyan nationals only. If you meet the position requirements listed below (education and years of relevant work experience) please follow the instructions ‘How to apply’ below.

Place of assignment

The Consultant is expected to perform her/his work from Tripoli, with frequent travel to Benghazi, and Sabha.

All travel arrangements will be made by WHO. WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant, without prior authorization of WHO. While on a mission, under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive applicable subsistence allowance.

Visas requirements: The Consultant’s responsibility is to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if and when needed.

Purpose of the Consultancy:

Infectious diseases especially high threat pathogens pose a major and continuing public health threat on countries. Libya has experienced recuring emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the last few years. Functioning real time surveillance system with ability for early detection, verifying, confirming and responding to alerts and outbreaks of high threat pathogen is one of IHR requirements. In Libya, Early Warning Alert and Response System (EWARS) was established in 2016 by WHO to detect and response diseases outbreak. Linked to EWARN, Multi-disciplinary rapid response teams (RRTS) were established and trained to ensure timely outbreak investigation and containment. However, EWARN capacity have been stretched with COVID-19 pandemic that affects different aspects of health services.

WHO is planning to support NCDC to increase capacity of Surveillance, rapid response teams, and case investigation in Libya by enhancing epidemic intelligence through a real-time surveillance system including EWARN for rapid detection of suspected cases and verification of COVID 19 and comprehensive and rapid contact tracing (Pillar 3 of WHO SPRP). As part of the preparedness and response,  the requestor proposes to hire a surveillance officer under a consultancy contract. The individual will provide assessment, on-the-job training and technical advice for NCDC staff for COVID-19 surveillance and EWARN activities planned and any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Work to be performed:

1. Support NCDC to expand existing EWARN sentinel reporting sites , including private sectors and  detention centres.
2. Support NCDC to conduct training/refresher training for surveillance officers on case definition, data collection and management and other spects of EWARN.
3. Provide technical support to NCDC to establish ILI/SARI surveillance sites to be included in COVID-19 Surveillance.
4. Develop/update and finalize national guidelines and SOPs for EWARN.
5. Develop and implement the country-specific model for COVID-19 surveillance and EWARN data collection, cleaning analysis and report dissemination.
6. Develop training plan to train technical officers from the NCDC surveillance department on data cleaning and data analysis in Tripoli, Benghazi and Sebha.
7. Establish community-based Surveillance for COVID-19 and priority diseases in a pilot to detect COVID-19 suspected cases.
8. According to priorities, review the structure of RRTs and organize their work and conduct trainings.
9. Support NCDC to train RRTs on case detection, specimen collection, contact tracing and outbreak investigation. Support surveillance and response teams for transportation, communication tools and specimen transportation.
10. Provide support to NCDC to strengthen the capacities of health workers for the implementation of Health Information Systems in Libya.

Deliverables:

At the end of the mission, the Consultant will have to:

1. Submit a biweekly technical report during the duration of the assignment for the activities carried out.
2. Develop a training package on  ILI SARI surveillance and influenza surveillance program specific for Libya.
3. Develop a training package for surveillance officers and WHO community volunteers on community-based Surveillance.
4. Submit training reports for the trainings conducted.

Educational qualifications:

Essential: First Level University degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in medicine, epidemiology, database management or public health.

Desirable: An advanced university degree in quantitative epidemiology or health-related field. specialized training in communicable diseases and disease surveillance response.

Work experience:

Essential: At least two (2) years of relevant professional work experience, with national/international exposure, in quantitative epidemiology and implementing Integrated Disease surveillance and response systems, outbreak investigation and response in humanitarian settings.

 Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:

– Demonstrated knowledge of surveillance and monitoring systems as related to emergency response relief operations, complemented by skills in the field of epidemiological or statistical data collection, assessment, analysis and evaluation and monitoring in a public health context.

– Proven ability to multitask across various planning and implementation processes within a highly demanding environment.

– Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention to the application of an all-hazards approach in the context of the International Health Regulations and the use of event-based and indicator-based Surveillance, as well as descriptive epidemiology and principles of public health in communicable disease surveillance and response.

– Ability to work as part of a team;

– Strong organizational skills;

– Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Language:

– Fluency in oral and written Arabic and English languages is required.

How to Apply: 

PROFILES SHOULD BE COMPLETED USING “WHO PERSONAL HISTORY FORM”. DULY COMPLETED FORM AND CV/RESUME SHOULD BE SENT WAITH A COVER LETTER TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS – EMACOLIYHR@WHO.INT

PLEASE REFFER TO THE POSITION TITLE IN YOUR APPLICATION EMAIL.