Epidemiologist

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (TheProgramme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:Work with the response teams to perform outbreak investigation of suspected/confirmedcases and rumours of outbreak prone diseases Provide technical support in developing systems for prompt detection, verification and response to infectious diseases outbreak incidents, ensuring efficiency of datacollection, correlation, analysis, interpretation and timely reporting. Collate and verify data on reported infectious diseases or rumors received from multiplesources, conduct retrospective analysis of reported incidents: determinetrends, distribution patterns, and efficiency of the verification mechanism.4. Contribute to building the core surveillance, alert and response national capacities in accordance with the requirement for IHR 2005; provide trainings for subnational incident management team and health facility level staff suited for the area of responsibility and any particular local, cultural language or other aspects that may pertain to it, support the team in the supervision and on-the-job training at health facility level.5. Support the development of early warning systems (including event/community based and indicator-based surveillance) for epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases for early detection and response to public health incidents. 6. Conductfield investigation. Provide technical support for vulnerability assessment,risk mapping and development of preparedness/contingency plan at district level. 7. Maintaina clean line list of all reported infectious diseases cases at National and Subnational level, and document all steps taken in the verification and response process.8. Facilitate the district surveillance regular review meetings including the tracking of thesurveillance performance indicators. In cooperation with the team, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the planned surveillance activities, as well as alert and response capacities for incidents detection, verification and response in compliance with IHR 2005.9. Prepare and disseminate outbreak updates and assessments to WCO as required using standard tools and templates.10. Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: University degree in health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster managementor related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable: Advanced university degree in health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.Specialized training in emergency management; Public Health, Epidemiology, and specific training in humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years of related experience in emergency management and operations, with proven experience in emergency response. Substantial experience in supporting outbreakresponse is essential. Experience in promoting collaborative partnerships and working in the district health system.
Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.

Skills

Sound knowledge and skills in database management and statistical analysis, secondarydata review, survey designing and implementation, monitoring and evaluation systems design or use, and public health information management. • Provenability to multitask across various planning and implementation processeswithin a highly demanding environment • Demonstrated knowledge, competency andprofessional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control,epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response with particular attention to applicationof an all hazard approach in the context of the International HealthRegulations and the use of event based and indicator based surveillance, aswell as descriptive epidemiology and principles of public health incommunicable disease surveillance and response.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Moving forward in a changing environment
Ensuring the effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at UGX 184,847,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• 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.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.

• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (

https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion

)are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.

• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to

reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. 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 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.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.

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The World Health Organization, Uganda Country Office is looking for a qualified and competent Ugandan national to fill the following vacant position:

BACKGROUND

In recent times, Uganda has seen an increase in the occurrence of public health emergencies with so many events recorded each year. Geographical location in the meningitis and yellow fever belts, the ‘filo virus triangle’, as well as proximity to the biodiversity rich ‘hot spot’ of the Congo basin is the most important vulnerability for the occurrence. Climate change pressures on the eco-systems and environment, as well as increased international travel and globalization also influenced the occurrence of public health emergencies in the country. The country is also currently hosting more that 1.4 million refugees becoming one of the largest refugee hosting countries in Africa and the third in the world after Pakistan and Turkey.

Engagement of an Epidemiologist demonstrates commitment of WHO Uganda to ensure prompt confirmation of infectious hazards to support its containment in line IHR (2005) requirements.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The mission of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme (The Programme) is to help countries, and to coordinate international action, to prevent, prepare for, detect, rapidly respond to, and recover from outbreaks and emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent will perform the following duties:

1.  Work with the response teams to perform outbreak investigation of suspected/confirmed cases and rumours of outbreak prone diseases.
2. Provide technical support in developing systems for prompt detection, verification and response to infectious diseases outbreak incidents, ensuring efficiency of data collection, correlation, analysis, interpretation and timely reporting.
3. Collate and verify data on reported infectious diseases or rumors received from multiple sources, conduct retrospective analysis of reported incidents: determine trends, distribution patterns, and efficiency of the verification mechanism.

1. Contribute to building the core surveillance, alert and response national capacities in accordance with the requirement for IHR 2005; provide trainings for sub-national incident management team and health facility level staff suited for the area of responsibility and any particular local, cultural language or other aspects that may pertain to it, support the team in the supervision and on-the-job training at health facility level.

5. Support the development of early warning systems (including event/community based and indicator-based surveillance) for epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases for early detection and response to public health incidents.
6. Conduct field investigation. Provide technical support for vulnerability assessment, risk mapping and development of preparedness/contingency plan at district level.
7. Maintain a clean line list of all reported infectious diseases cases at National and Sub-national level, and document all steps taken in the verification and response process.
8. Facilitate the district surveillance regular review meetings including the tracking of the surveillance performance indicators. In cooperation with the team, monitor and evaluate the implementation of the planned surveillance activities, as well as alert and response capacities for incidents detection, verification and response in compliance with IHR 2005.
9. Prepare and disseminate outbreak updates and assessments to WHO Country Office (WCO) as required using standard tools and templates.
10. Perform any other incident-specific related duties, as required by the functional supervisor.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced university degree in health-related field, management, emergency, humanitarian, disaster management or related field, from an accredited/recognized institute.

Desirable: Specialized training in emergency management; Public Health, Epidemiology, and specific training in humanitarian response.

Experience

Essential: At least 2 years of related experience in emergency management and operations, with proven experience in emergency response. Substantial experience in supporting outbreak response is essential.  Experience in promoting collaborative partnerships and working in the district health system.

 

Desirable: Relevant work experience in WHO, other UN agencies; experience working in relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations. Experience in developing countries.

Skills

• Sound knowledge and skills in database management and statistical analysis, secondary data review, survey designing and implementation, monitoring and evaluation systems design or use, and public health information management. • 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 application of an all hazard 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.

 WHO Competencies

• *Fostering integration and teamwork
• *Communicating in a credible and effective way
• *Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Moving forward in a changing environment
• Ensuring effective use of resources

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable:

REMUNERATION

WHO offers staff in the National Officer category an attractive remuneration package, which for the above position includes an annual net base salary starting at UGX 168,791,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.

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