Medical Officer (Integrated Disease Surveillance)

Vacancy Notice No: AFRO/13/FT435 Title: Medical Officer (Integrated Disease Surveillance) Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  One(01) year	Date: 16 October 2013 Application Deadline: 13 November 2013 (15 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Brazzaville, Congo   Organization unit: AFRO Africa Regional Office (AF/RGO) / AF/DPC Disease Prevention and Control (AF/DPC)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : Within WHO strategic Objective 1 'To reduce the health, social and economic burden of communicable diseases', the objectives of the Disease Surveillance and Response Programme Area are to strengthen the implementation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Strategy, accelerate the implementation of the International Health Regulations, develop and maintain regional and national capacity to detect, confirm and respond to epidemic and pandemic prone diseases as well as other public health emergencies.
Description of duties: -Develop tools, protocols and procedures on the assessment of national surveillance systems and support member states in assessing their surveillance systems, -Coordinate development and dissemination of disease surveillance and data management tools in collaboration with WHO/HQ and external technical partners such as Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Atlanta, -Coordinate the establishment and monitoring of IDS databases within the Real-time Strategic Information Management, -Coordinate the analysis of integrated surveillance data and provide regular feedback to countries and DSR programme, -Coordinate the production and dissemination of key Integrated Disease Surveillance (IDS) information products such as (DSR bulletins, country surveillance profiles, surveillance assessment/evaluation reports, surveillance dashboards, etc. -Coordinate support to Member States for the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of IDS activities, -Support the operationalization of the IDS Coordination mechanism at the Regional Office, -Promote research activities related to IDS in collaboration with other programs/units, -Contribute to mobilization of technical and financial resources for strengthening surveillance at national and regional levels, -Contribute to the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the DSR programme, -Any other duties that may be assigned by the supervisor (s).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Essential: Medical degree with post graduate degree in public health or epidemiology OR PhD in epidemiology or public health informatics Desirable: University degree or diploma in computer science or information technology.
Skills:  -Excellent knowledge of communicable disease epidemiology and surveillance, -Working knowledge of databases and use of epidemiological and statistical packages [such as Epi Info, Stata, -SAS or SPSS] and GIS software such as Map Info, Instant Atlas etc. -Effective oral and written communication skills -Ability to plan and implement training in disease surveillance -Ability to work effectively with colleagues at national and international level.
Experience: Essential: At least 7 years professional experience in disease surveillance , prevention and control; 5 years practicalexperience in planning and implementation of disease prevention and control programmes at national and international level. Desirable: Previous experience in field epidemiology would be an advantage.
Languages: Excellent knowledge of English or French with a good working knowkedge of the other.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 67,395 at single rate US$ 72,373 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 65.3 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.