Vacancy title: Public Health Officer
Deadline of this Job: Thursday, April 04 2024
Duty Station: Within Tanzania , Dodoma, East Africa
JOB DETAILS:
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The World Health Organization (WHO) Africa region is the hardest hit where about74% of the estimated 1.2 million TB patients co-infected with HIV occurred in 2014. For many years, efforts to tackle TB and HIV have been largely independent of each other, despite their overlapping epidemiology. The risk of progression from latent to active TB is increased by infection with HIV. Likewise, TB is the most important opportunistic disease that increases the progression to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the number one killer in HIV-positive individuals. Thus, effective TB control can contribute to better HIV/AIDS control by reducing the TB burden in people with HIV as well as providing an entry point to HIV prevention and care for people with TB The HIV prevalence in the general population in Tanzania was 4.7% in 2016/17, however, there are geographical variations across Tanzania, ranging from 11.4 percent in Njombe to less than one percent (<1%) in Lindi and Zanzibar. The number of AIDS related deaths continue to decline. The EMTCT rate remains high at 11%(UNAIDS). According to the Tanzania HIV impact survey 2016/2017, the number of new HIV infections stands at 81,000 new cases of HIV annually among adults ages 15 to 64 years and the 2021 HIV Estimates sows a decline to 68 000 new infections. Of concern is that the new infections are in among young people WHO estimates that over 2 billion people have been exposed to hepatitis B virus and approximately 350 million people are chronically infected with HBV. In Tanzania HBV prevalence is estimated at 4 % among people aged 15 – 49 years. However there are geographical variation among blood donors, ranging from 3,5% in Mbeya to as high as 9,2% in Mara region and even higher is key populations (KPs)Chronic HBV infection is the risk factor for the development of HCC. The progression of chronicity and the associated pathogenesis directly correlate with active viral replication demonstrable by serological markers STIs though closely related to HIV is also facing challenges in its management due to unavailability of medicines.
Description Of Duties
• Support the Health Sector, including the Ministry of Health in strengthening national capacity and building partnerships for the control of HIV/AIDS, STI, TB and VH in URT;
• Act as focal person in the WHO Country Office to manage Hep, TB, STI and HIV related work through coordination with Health Sector (MOH) counterparts, donors and health partners in these areas;
• Provide technical support in the development of TB and HIV/Hep/STI national strategic and operational plans in addition to, coordination, supervision of interventions related to their implementation, monitoring and evaluation at both national and subnational level;
• Provide technical support to improve integrated health information system, especially increased demand, generation and use of quality data/information related to TB, STI, HIV/TB and Hep.
• Participate in resource mobilization and contribute to proposal development and implementation of, but not limited to, the Global Fund grants, PEPFAR;
• Assist the Health Sector in ensuring the real-time monitoring of the epidemiological trends of Hep, TB, STI and HIV, in addition to the progress of the response;
• Provide technical support to recommend programme initiatives and priorities, including operational/implementation research, based on analysis of technical and policy problems identified during the programme implementation;
• Liaise with the government counterparts to facilitate and support adaptation and implementation of the national TB, STI and HIV/Hep programmes in line with the WHO normative guidance and international best practice;
• Assist in the interpretation and translation of relevant documents Ensure a brokering role of main actors involved in the health sector and advise the WHO Representative for policy dialogue aimed at addressing bottle necks limiting progress of the response related to Hep, TB, STI and HIV
• Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisors
Required Qualifications
Education
• Essential: Medical degree or Degree in Public Health or Epidemiology or other related fields
• Desirable: Post graduate training of Masters’ Degree in public health or epidemiology. specialized training in communicable diseases.
Experience
• Essential: At least five years related experience in public health.
Skills
• Extensive knowledge and experience in HIV and TB prevention and control programming and implementation.
• Proven experience in HIV and TB technical and programme management at country level.
• Knowledge of Viral Hepatitis and STI Programming.
• Knowledge of the Tanzania health system – management and strategic planning at national level.
• Ability to develop and facilitate the development of HIV, STI, TB and VH guidelines and effectively monitor progress in use of guidelines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to cooperate and negotiate with technical and funding agencies, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of staff.
• Experience with Global Fund proposal development, grant management and implementation processes
• Excellent communication skills, including presentation skills, ability to write strategically and speak clearly
WHO Competencies
• Teamwork
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
• Communication
• Use of Language Skills
• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
REMUNERATION
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at TZS 145,847,000 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 60
Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Job application procedure
Use the Link below to apply,
