• Country: Washington D.C, USA
• No of vacancies: N/A
  
• Salary: N/A 
• Organization: WHO
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: 2024-01-31

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The objective of the Health Emergencies Department (PHE) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is to increase health sector resilience to emergencies and disasters. PHE assists Member States to strengthen the health sector’s capacities in prevention, risk reduction, preparedness, surveillance, response, and early recovery for emergencies and disasters related to any hazards (natural, man- made, biological, chemical, radiological and others) and, when national capacities are overwhelmed, to lead and coordinate the international health response to contain disasters, including outbreaks, and to provide effective relief and recovery to affected populations. PHE is responsible for ensuring the implementation and updating of the PAHO/WHO Institutional Emergency and Disaster Response Policy.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the general supervision of the Deputy Director, Health Emergencies (PHE), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Infectious Hazard Management (IHM), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties:

1. a)Provide technical advice and guidance to Member States related to the health care system’s response during epidemics and pandemics with particular focus on clinical management and infection prevention and control;
2. b)Develop and update technical guidelines and provide guidance on clinical management of patients with pandemic and epidemic diseases for use of national health authorities, medical personnel and pertinent stakeholders;
3. c)Implement and manage an interactive information network with various counterparts and develop tools and materials to train health care workers to detect and respond to epidemics;
4. d)Provide technical advice for the implementation of the program of work on Infection Prevention and Control and develop technical cooperation activities to strengthen national infection prevention and control programs;
5. e)Advise and support Member States to develop and implement strategic plans to strengthen regional and national response capacity for the management of clinical activities during outbreaks, including infection prevention and control;
6. f)Collaborate with other expert groups to foster research on innovative clinical aspects of infectious hazards, and organize clinical technical working groups, identifying experts, establishing objectives, composition, leadership, and timeliness; support the work of these groups;
7. g)Foster clinical research on epidemic diseases before, during, and after emergencies, including ethical approach and sharing of information, through collaboration with WHO, other PAHO departments, research agencies and technical partners;
8. h)Support Member States to improve preparedness of health care facilities to reduce risk of transmission of epidemic diseases, including but not limited to development of triage/screening protocols, case definition for early case detection, strategies for clinical sampling, and infection prevention and control and healthcare facility management;
9. i)Provide technical advice for inter-programmatic coordination with other technical departments, such as the laboratory and epidemiology teams, to identify and guide data collection for surveillance of pandemic and epidemic diseases;
10. j)Cooperate and collaborate within and outside the Organization, to achieve efficient coordination of activities, systematic utilization of resources and comprehensive development of educational, research, and analytical capacities required for clinical management of epidemic diseases;
11. k)Promote the mobilization of resources in relation to clinical management of epidemic diseases, including preparation of project proposals for external funding;
12. l)Contribute to the preparation of biennial work plan and budgets (BWP), semiannual work plans and periodic evaluations for assigned projects; participate in the performance evaluation of the Unit;
13. m)Support the Organization’s emergency and disaster response operations, and serve as a member of the Regional Disaster Response Team;
14. n)When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
15. o)Perform other related duties, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Essential: A university degree in medicine and a master’s degree in epidemiology, public health, infectious diseases or in any other field related to the functions of the post, from a recognized institution.

Desirable: A PhD in epidemiology, public health, infectious diseases or a related field from a recognized institution would be an asset.

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/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Experience:

Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in activities related to medical or clinical management/research of infectious diseases, especially in outbreak settings, and practical experience adapting clinical management guidance and training for healthcare workers and clinicians.

Desirable: Experience in surveillance of epidemic infectious diseases would be an asset.

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