Job Description

Background and purpose of the position

Somalia continues to face persistent risk from poliovirus transmission and recurrent outbreaks of other vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the context of fragile health systems, population movement, insecurity, hard-to-reach areas. In line with the Regional Director’s vision to integrate polio, EPI and VPD surveillance functions, WHO Somalia is strengthening district-level operational capacity to ensure effective field implementation, early detection of outbreaks and rapid response.

The Public Health Officer (PHO) position is the primary WHO operational presence at district(s) level, responsible for integrated delivery of polio surveillance and Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) as the highest priority, followed by VPD outbreak detection and response, routine immunization (EPI), and public health emergency functions. This position ensures direct linkage between communities, district health authorities and WHO Somalia.

Objectives of the position

The PHO will strengthen district level public health systems to ensure:

1. Highly sensitive polio surveillance and high-quality surveillance operations at district level.
2. Support planning, implementation and quality monitoring of SIA of Polio and other VPDs.
3. Enable early detection, investigation and response to VPD outbreaks and others public health events.
4. Support robust EPI performance.

Organizational context

The PHO works under the technical supervision of the State Technical Officer (Integrated services). The PHO’s serve as WHO’s primary operational focal point at the district level and conducts integrated delivery of polio, VPD, EPI and emergency functions, as guided through the State-level technical structure and aligned with the national priorities set by the EPRI Team Lead.

Summary of the assigned responsibilities

1. Polio programme (priority)
   • Implement and monitor Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and Environmental Surveillance (ES), ensuring timely case detection, investigation, and proper collection, storage and transportation of AFP and ES samples
   • Support planning, implementation and monitoring of SIAs, in coordination with district health authorities and partners
   • Monitor campaign quality (ICM, LQAS, PCM), identify gaps, support corrective actions
2. Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) and Epidemic-Prone Diseases (IDSR) surveillance
   • Support surveillance for priority VPDs and IDSR implementation, including maintenance of functional facility and community-based reporting network of health facilities, routine data review, outbreak signal detection and data analysis for action and advocacy
3. Outbreak preparedness and response
   • Participate in field investigation of suspected/confirmed polio outbreaks as a priority, and support investigation and response for other VPD and public health events.
   • Support risk assessment and implementation of outbreak response activities.
4. Routine immunization (EPI) support
   • Support district immunization microplanning, defaulter tracking, zero-dose identification and session monitoring, focusing high-risk mobile population and high-risk areas
5. Data analysis, monitoring and reporting
   • Ensure accurate and timely reporting of surveillance and programmatic data, prepare district-level summaries and reports, coordinate with health authorities, NGOs and partners, and on-the-job training to surveillance and immunization health staff
6. Other duties
   • Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor in support of WHO’s mandate in Somalia

Experiences and Qualifications

• Education (essential): Medical degree (M.B,B.S)
• Education (desirable): Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) training or Masters in public health

Experience

• Essential: Minimum 3 years of public health experience, including polio/disease surveillance, outbreak response.
• Desirable: Experience in emergency settings or work with UN/iNGOs.

Competencies

• Teamwork
• Producing results
• Communication
• Working in complex and fragile settings

Skills Required

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