Program Coordinator wanted at Botswana Field Epidemiology Lab Training Program (FELTP) – Frontline

Premiere in support of the Botswana Field Epidemiology Lab Training Program (FELTP) – Frontline in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ministry of Health and Wellness is seeking to recruit a team of highly qualified & experienced persons for the following roles for this project;

Background

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Global Health (CGH) in collaboration with the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Ministries of Health in Sub-Saharan Africa is implementing Frontline Field epidemiology training for several cadres of public health workers. The focus of these field epidemiology training will be on increasing the public health system’s ability to identify and respond rapidly to a possible introduction of infectious diseases by improving collection, analysis and dissemination of public health data at the local levels. The training is competency based and can be customized to suit local needs. The courses include didactic sessions followed by field work at the participants work location. During the field work, the participants work on projects that are supervised by local mentors. The projects should aim at improving surveillance and outbreak response at the local level and should gain the support of the local health managers and DHMT levels. At the end of the fieldwork, participants produce a written and oral report of their field activities.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness aims to strengthen epidemiological and disease surveillance capabilities in Botswana which is critical to meeting the International Health Regulations (IHR) requirements for the full implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy.

Duty Stations: Gaborone, Botswana -Ministry of Health and Wellness with frequent travel to the Districts.

Specification
Basic Roles and Functions:
The Program Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating the training and mentoring of surveillance officers and other public health workers for the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) of Botswana. The training of the health care workers aims to improve disease surveillance, early detection, and timely response to outbreaks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Work with the FELTP Resident Advisor in Botswana, Ministry of Health and Wellness and other partners to:

•Develop and implement a plan for the Frontline FELTP training for public health professionals.
•Work with a consultant and the resident advisor to review and adapt the existing FELTP curriculum and training materials as may be required to suit the specific needs of the country.
•Ensure availability of all the required logistics for the didactics and field mentorship of selected participants.
•Train supervisors and mentors to effectively coach FELTP participants in the field to ensure attainment of the core competencies and skills
•Ensure the conduction and completion of planned Frontline FELTP training for surveillance officers in the country.
•Coordinate through district supervisors the provision of mentorship, coaching and supervision of the trainees during the field placement periods to ensure acquisition of key field epidemiology skills and competencies.
•Ensure the provision of technical assistance by the district supervisors to trainees in preparing their presentations for local and national level dissemination of their key findings and recommendations from their field projects.
•Organize 1-2 simulation exercises in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation and response activities in the Ministry of Health and Wellness together with the trained surveillance officers as a means to keep the skills current and track the level of reediness.
•Assist with the evaluation of the FELTP program and participants.
•Develop a database for all the Frontline FELTP alumni in the country
•Prepare regular and timely technical reports on the program implementation in the country for submission to CDC, MoHW and other partners.

Requirements
Position Qualification

1.Masters or Doctoral-level professional degree in academic fields related to health or allied sciences, preferably in human medicine, Public Health, veterinary medicine nursing & laboratory science.
2.Graduate from a Field Epidemiology laboratory Training Program (FELTP) in Africa within the past 2-3 years will have added advantage.

Experience and Skills
•At least 1-2 years of experience working in the field as a practicing epidemiologist.
•Sound knowledge of WHO standards and policies such as the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy (IDSR) and International Health Regulations.
•Extensive knowledge and understanding of the functionality of surveillance systems at national, district, local and community levels of health systems in Africa.
•Experience in preparing and facilitating training for in – service public health workforce development initiatives in Africa preferably within an existing FELTP.
•Experience implementing adult education strategies i.e. problem based participatory learning activities, role-play, etc.
•Demonstrated proficiency in distillation, interpretation, and verification of unstructured scientific and popular data.
•Training and experience in public health emergency management and incident command will be an added advantage
•Proficiency in the use of the following software:
oWord Processing
oSpreadsheet (i.e excel)
oPower point
oDatabase
oInternet
oStatistical Packages: Epi Info, STATA, SPSS

Job Closing Date 17/12/2020

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