Summary
Date Posted:Tuesday, April 25 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:

PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) was established with a legal mandate to prevent disease transmission, implement surveillance, and effectively respond to health threats and outbreaks. The World Bank, with co–financing from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF), has provided US$49 million to the Government of Zambia for the Zambia COVID–19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (ZCERHSP).
The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID–19 in Zambia and strengthen national public health systems for preparedness.

The Project aims to reduce the spread of COVID–19 and support COVID–19 case management,
infection prevention and control, and interventions to maintain essential health services. The funds are also meant to protect and ensure the continuity of essential reproductive, maternal, new–born, child and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH–N) services and related health systems strengthening amidst the challenges posed by COVID–19.

Additional Financing (AF) was also granted to provide upfront financing to help the Government purchase and deploy COVID–19 vaccines and strengthen relevant health systems that are necessary for a successful deployment, and to prepare for future pandemics.

The Project has three strategic components: (i) Emergency Public Health Response to COVID–19; (ii) Resilient Health Service Delivery; and, (iii) Project Management, Operational Research, and Governance and Accountability. Each component has complementary actions defined under sub–components for each implementing entity.

The Project is being implemented through the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) housed in the ZNPHI. Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced candidates to fill the following positions under the (ZCERHSP).

PUBLIC HEALTH SPECIALIST

a. Duty Station: ZNPHI, Lusaka
b. Reports to: ZCERHSP Project Manager

Job Objectives
The Public Health Specialist (PHS), under the direction of the Project Manager, will work
closely with the Sub–Project implementation Unit (S–PIU) in MOH to support implementation of project activities under the Zambia COVID–19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project including deployment of vaccines activities supported by the project. At technical level, the PHS will work closely with relevant clusters or departments in the Zambia National Public Health Institute and MOH and other key stakeholders during project implementation. Since project activities are country wide, the PHS will collaborate with various institutions and organizations at national and subnational levels as well as affected communities and other relevant stakeholders to implement COVID–19 activities as part of the national COVID–19 response within the aims and objectives of Zambia COVID–19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project.

Scope of Work
The PHS’ primary responsibilities will be coordination, planning, implementation support and documentation of initiatives relating to emergency operations, mitigation, and recovery efforts for COVID–19 under the project.

The main duties and accountabilities will include
Main Duties/Accountabilities
1. Support the development, review and/or updating of COVID–19 Standard Operations
2. Procedures (SOPs) and related public health guidelines in order to provide guidance to the ZNPHI, MoH, health facilities, community–based health workers, and other stakeholders as well as facility preparedness assessment tool and ensuring that these are applied in project supported areas.
3. Support the development of technical guidelines and provide technical support in the detection, risk assessment, and verification of COVID–19 epidemic through official and unofficial sources involving contacts in collaboration with public health officials from the ZNPHI and MOH, and other stakeholders.
4. Collect, assess, and verify information on COVID–19 under the project in line with the
5. operational requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR–2005) in collaboration with clusters in ZNPHI responsible for surveillance and disease intelligence as well emergency preparedness and response
6. Collaborate in monitoring, analyzing, and disseminating COVID–19 information generated from the Event Management System (EMS) supported by the project; ensure the quality and accuracy of the information registered in the system; prepare statistical analyses, analyze disease risk profiles, and assist in coordinating routine epidemiological reporting.
7. Working closely with the Environmental Specialist, support coordination and strengthening the COVID–19 Emergency Operating Centres and Rapid Response Teams at all levels by setting up, managing and/or supporting surveillance, epidemic control, health promotion and infection prevention and control, and vaccination interventions in project areas.
8. In close collaboration with relevant partners in the multisectoral response, coordinate health care providers to undertake public health related tasks as well as identifying local volunteers and community partners who can support the public health interventions at the community levels supported by the Project to work with vulnerable populations.
9. Working closely with the Public health department and Sub–PIU in MOH, to oversee and facilitate appropriate and quality health service delivery for all COVID–19 vaccination in order to improve quality of deployment and maintenance of essential services in RMNCAHN and ensure adherence to the Public Health guidelines on continuation of essential services amidst Covid 19 pandemic including the Covid 19 vaccine guidelines
10. Supervise the implementation of COVID–19 surveillance activities in the at sub–national levels (provinces and districts) to ensure early anticipation, identification, investigation, control and prevention of disease outbreak.
11. Plan and coordinate public health capacity building to impart appropriate skills and knowledge to implementers at various health facility or community levels in the country, and reinforce, basic and or specialized community–based health training.
12. Working closely with the Project Social Development Specialist, Environmental Specialist and the Case Management Specialist, planning, managing, and/or supporting context–specific community based epidemic control and disease prevention activities.
13. As required, support the ZNPHI’s national response to COVID–19 epidemic.
14. Undertake any other tasks as assigned by the –Project Manager

Contract Duration:
This is a full time position for a period of 7 months.

Qualifications and Experience
1. Master’s Degree in Public Health or equivalent relevant work experience.
2. Certificate in Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP) will be an added
3. advantage.
4. Licensed by the Zambia Health Professions Council of Zambia or the General Nursing
5. Council.
6. Proven experience of at least ten (10) years as Public Health Specialist; with at least three years in disease prevention and surveillance.
7. Preferred experience working in outbreak, emergency, epidemic situations.
8. Proven ability to design and implement sound public health interventions in a variety of settings.

Competences
1. Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to write in a clear and concise manner and give technical advice and guidance considering the views of multiple stakeholders and partners.
2. Proven ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.
3. Proven training and capacity building skills for a range of stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated ability and experience in coordination, and able to work under pressure is required.
5. Strong computer literacy (Windows, Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, word processing, e–mail)
6. Excellent planning and time management skills.
7. Experience in writing Project success stories, lessons learnt and best practices.
8. Skills in training, facilitation, coaching and development of staff and volunteers.
9. Willingness to participate in field activities/surveys and extensive travel to remote areas within the project areas.
10. Capable of decision–making in conditions of uncertainty.
11. Able to demonstrate innovation in problem solving.
12. Capable of handling extreme stress, change and emergency situations.
13. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team–oriented setting.


Job Experience:No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Level of Education: Associate Degree

Job application procedure

Application letters should include certified copies of academic / professional certificates and
detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable references and addressed to:
The Director General
Zambia National Public Health Institute,
Stand No. 1186, corner Addis Ababa Drive and Chaholi Road
Rhodespark,
Lusaka.

Attention: Head, Procurement and Supplies Unit

Applications can be submitted in hard copy or electronic copy. The hard copy should be deposited in the Tender Box at the Zambia National Public Health Institute, on the second floor by or before 25th April 2023 before 10:30 hours local time. Envelopes should clearly “indicate the position applied for” under the Zambia COVID–19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project (P174185).

If submitted in electronic copies, applications must be submitted in a zip folder to the email
address indicated below by the above stated time and date.

Email: info@znphi.co.zm  with copies to: fridaycmumba@gmail.com  oliveclarachiboola@gmail.com  sylviamwale18@gmail.com  lengwemulando1@gmail.com 


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