Re-advertised Consultant to support Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance

(STC, period of one year from Sep 22 – Aug 2023)

Purpose of the Post

The Program assistant will provide technical and administrative assistance to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance Consultant in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance, Routine Immunization/RI (including Adverse Events Following Immunization/AEFI), supplementary immunization Activities (SIAs) and outbreak response activities. 

Description of Duties:           

The program assistant for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) surveillance is primarily responsible to provide technical and administrative assistance to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance Consultant and for completing the following tasks and activities, including but not limited to:

1. Assist and monitor Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and other VPDs surveillance and immunization program related activities along all levels in the country, including coordination between all relevant partners.
2. Oversee and ensure timely and accurate planning, implementation and monitoring of AFP and other VPDs surveillance activities (including AEFI), training of Province/District surveillance officers and Health facility/community surveillance focal points.
3. Assist liaison with Ministry of Health (MOH), National Immunisation Program (NIP), National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology (NCLE), provincial health offices, district health offices and relevant partners for all logistic arrangements and for field activities.
4. Assist VPDs surveillance consultant in monitoring surveillance, immunization and SIAs activities in MOH, NCLE, NIP, provinces, districts, health facilities and communities including coordination between all relevant partners.
5. Participate in planning, implementation and monitoring of routine immunization, SIAs and measles elimination activities at the national, province, district, health facility and community levels.
6. Assist VPDs surveillance consultant in activities to improve the quality of AFP (other VPDs) surveillance; including training/orientation of national and sub-national staffs, strengthening facility/community based active surveillance for AFP and other VPDs, as well as case investigation and follow-up of due cases.
7. Assist MOH, NCLE/NIP, Provinces, and districts in conducting outbreak investigations for Polio/measles or other VPDs.
8. Support NCLE in Establishment of Environmental surveillance (ES) for detection of Polioviruses; including preparation of proposal, provide training, site selection, regular sample collection, storage and shipment, etc.   
9. Assist the provinces and districts to identify high-risk areas and silent district/health centres for polio, measles and other VPDs to improve immunization/SIAs and VPDs surveillance activities in the identified areas.
10. Provide the required support to the VPDs surveillance consultant/VDI team lead for the translation from English to Lao and from Lao to English.
11. Assist MOH, NIP/NCLE, provinces, districts and health facilities in recording, reporting and analysing surveillance, immunization (including AEFI) and SIAs data to improve the data quality management and use of data for decision-making process.
12. Provide regular updates on AFP/VPDs surveillance, RI (including AEFI), case response and SIAs activities to VDI Team Lead with draft presentations and reports as requested.   
13. Conduct regular supportive supervisory field visits on AFP and other VPDs surveillance and share feedback to VDI team lead, NIP/NCLE, Provinces, Districts and Health facilities.
14. Facilitate/attend regular coordination meetings with surveillance (VPDs), Immunization and SIAs implementing partners.
15. Assist AFP and other VPDs surveillance guideline review, finalization, printing and dissemination. As well as assist the preparation and distribution of training guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), job aids and other materials of VPDs surveillance, RI and SIAs.
16. Write a monthly report and submit to the VDI team lead.
17. Assist the VPDs surveillance consultant and VDI team lead on any other related tasks assigned. 

Education:

University degree in Medicine or health related sciences or equivalent professional training from a recognized university.

Knowledge & skills:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Have the ability to prepare correspondence, summaries of meetings and other documentation.
• Have the ability to work harmoniously in a team, adapt to diverse education and cultural background and maintain a high standard of personal conduct.

Experience:

• At least 1-2 years working experience at the national or provincial level in development and implementation of immunization, VPDs surveillance or other health-related programmes.
• Previous work experience in World Health Organization (WHO) or nongovernmental and/or with regional or international organizations is desirable.

Language: 

• Strong knowledge of written and spoken English and Lao is required.
• Knowledge of other local languages is a plus.

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit applications and curriculum vitae in the English language with a subject " Consultant to support Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) Surveillance " to the following Email address : wplaohr@who.int by 14 Aug 2022 at 17:00 PM.