National Vector Control SSA

Purpose of the Post:

To provide technical support to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) Ministry of Health (MoH) in strengthening vector surveillance and control functions for malaria, dengue and other vector borne diseases.     

Estimated duration:

      Start date:   15 July 2021

      End date:    15 Jan 2022

Description of Duties:

            To strengthen entomological surveillance and monitoring of major vectors species in Lao , particularly Aedes and Anopheles. Major duties will include:

a.       Supporting CMPE in the operationalization of the national “Dengue Vector Management Guidelines” and the “Entomological Surveillance for malaria vectors in Lao PDR”;

b.       Work with WHO and CMPE to develop and implement a vector surveillance data management system so that seasonal fluctuations can be systematically monitored and for both dengue and malaria and reported to CMPE to provide an evidence base during an epidemic;

c.       Support CMPE to establish and maintain an insectary of key Aedes vectors and conduct routine insecticide resistance monitoring using these populations;

d.       Help implement routine entomological monitoring of the key malaria vectors in Lao, including insecticide resistance, adult biting behaviour and adult and larval population monitoring;

e.       Collaborate with other health sector partners to implement the community and social mobilisation strategies in the national dengue action plan, which focuses on aggressive, community led, source reduction throughout the year;

f.        To coordinate and strengthen partnerships and reporting on emerging vector borne diseases in Lao:

To perform other duties that may be assigned by the WHO Representative.

Output 1: CMPE entomological unit staff have greater capacity to operationalise the national dengue vector surveillance and response guidelines.

Deliverable 1.1: Support CMPE to develop protocols for setting up and maintaining an insectary so that insecticide resistance testing can be conducted on Aedes vector species.

Deliverable 1.2: Support CMPE to establish a functioning insectary with colonies of key Aedes vector species.

Deliverable 1.3: Work with CMPE to conduct and report on routine insecticide resistance testing of Aedes vector species in the insectary.

Deliverable 1.4: Work with CMPE to train subnational teams to collect and report on dengue vector surveillance and response activities as per the national guidelines and protocols.

Output 2: CMPE entomological team have a greater capacity to the national malaria vector surveillance and response guidelines.

Deliverable 2.1: Work with CMPE and provincial teams to conduct routine malaria vector surveillance and response activities as per the national guidelines and protocols. This includes collecting core vector data as part of malaria foci and malaria outbreak response;

Deliverable 2.2: Support CMPE to train subnational staff on malaria vector surveillance and response (such as indoor residual spraying).

Education: University degree in science, environmental science, public health or related area

Experience required:

Essential: least 3 years’ experience in scientific field work, public health or epidemiology.  

Languages:

Essential: High degree of competency in reading, writing and spoken Lao and English.

Other skills (e.g. IT): 

·         Excellent computer skills and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Powerpoint), databases, the Internet, search engines, and email.

·         Strong planning and organizational skills, having the ability to handle multiple tasks independently with varying timelines.

·         Strong interpersonal skills, working positively and sensitively with staff, community members, and constituents.

·         Ability to work in the field under difficult environmental conditions.

·         Good computer skills on using Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit applications and curriculum vitae in the English language with a subject " National Vecto Control SSA " to the email address wplaohr@who.int by   25 June 2021, 17:00.

Please note that applications without subject or with a wrong subject might be disregarded.