JOB PURPOSE

The Medical Officer is appointed as a surge staff for areas of staff health and safety while providing hygiene and safety training, personal first aid training, review of medical and casualty response, assessment of health, safety and environmental issues of WFP staff and offices post COVID-19 Pandemic.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Doctorate in Medicine; Postgraduate medical qualification in, preferably, one of the following medical specialties; Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Occupational Health and Safety, and/or Public health.
• Currently registered to practice medicine in own country or another UN member state is required.
• Professional trainer’s certification related to infectious diseases i.e., Ebola, COVID-19.

Work Experience:

• Have vast experience in any outbreak response and emergencies.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive professional experience in healthcare, at least, 1-2 years should be in an international organization.
• At least five (5) years progressive experience and practice in general medicine in developing countries or countries in conflict.
• Creation of training programmes.
• Workshop & presentation training.
• Experience within the UN system or a similar NGO is an added advantage.

Language:

• Fluency (level C) in English language. Knowledge of French is an added advantage.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and drafting skills.
• Experience in emergency management (crisis or disaster medicine), travel medicine, tropical and infectious disease.
• Knowledge of addressing the psychosocial needs of humanitarian workers.
• Project management.
• Formal training in CPR and, preferably in Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) or equivalent.
• Emergency medical care.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results.
• Persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
• Remains calm in stressful situations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES (not all-inclusive)

Under the functional supervision and guidance of the Regional Medical Officer, the Medical Officer will be responsible for the following key duties:

• To contribute in the design and coordination of the delivery of medical services in the region for efficient and effective promotion, prevention and protection of the health and safety of WFP staff following the Wellness Strategy and the Regional Strategic objective
• Provide technical expertise, advice and solutions that support strategic results, and contribute to the formulation of regional strategies and approaches where appropriate
• Provide travel medicine services for staff on official travel, incorporating destination-specific health advice, facilitating access to immunization, prophylactic medications and travel medical kits
• Access and liaise with local medical facilities to ascertain proper medical care rendered and establish a referral list and updated list of reasonable and customary costs, whilst monitoring and verifying appropriateness, reasonableness and customary nature of major medical bills / treatment as required.
• Provide surge capacity to the corporate and UN system emergency response capacity including mass casualty incidents.
• The medical officer is NOT the primary care physician of WFP Staff: however, s/he does provide first aid emergency services in response to accidents occurring in the workplace.
• Implement staff health training (e.g., ongoing COVID-19 awareness, malaria prevention measures, first aid training).
• Implement health and SOP training with Cooperating Partners in relation to aspects of WFPs operations where WFP staff and CPs could be at risk of COVID-19.
• Participate in pre planning of WFPs Emergency response operations (e.g. Food distributions) to ensure discussions filter planning through a health lens alongside logistics etc. to ensure WFP staff have appropriate protection measures in place.
• Propose, assess, update as needed SOPs for staff protection, in specific higher risk occupational settings (e.g., food distributions, ports and warehouses with casual laborers, drivers and cleaners).
• Coordinate with health sector colleagues on the UNCTs to improve healthcare access for UN staff and family members.
• Assess and respond to increase of disease incidents among WFP staff (e.g., high incidence rate of malaria in sub offices).
• Assess disease outbreaks or other environmental hazards that could have impact on WFP’s operations and recommend mitigating measures.
• Identify (confidentially) staff with stress or other psychological concerns and coordinate assistance as appropriate with Regional Staff Counsellor and the UNDSS Counsellor.
• Manage, advise, and report on all health matters related to staff including:
  • Performing and assessing medical examinations and clearances for national staff related to recruitment, periodic medical examination, pre-departure briefing for missions to the field, management or assistance with follow-up of chronic medical condition diagnosed and for which treatment has already started etc.
  • Leave due to illness; or identifying health hazards for staff and/or dependents (work-related and/or environmental).
  • Ensuring compliance to all UN medical protocols and recommendations (HIV/AIDS, first-aid training PEP kit country specific protocols including PICT and VCCT).
  • Support WFP Country Offices in the management and monitoring of the implementation of the Service Level Agreement or Memoranda of Understanding regarding the sharing of DPKO/DFS Missions field medical services to WFP staff.