MdM seeks an INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL REFERENT (M/F) for Liberia

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organisation committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organisation do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations.

MdM currently works in 46 countries across all continents where it focuses on 4 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts.

Much of the legacy of Liberia in the world is related to the brutal string of civil wars between 1989 and 2003 that left more than 200,000 dead and created 15,000 child soldiers. Since the end of the war, the Government has been focused on increasing production and reducing poverty while creating an environment of good governance. To address the economic and political crisis, in 2005, a general presidential and parliamentary election was held. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was inaugurated as the first woman President in Africa in 2006 and later re-elected for a second term in 2011. Currently, the government faces many key challenges, on the top of the agenda is securing access to health services, reduce youth unemployment and corruption.

Between 2003 and 2013, Médecins du Monde (MdM) intervened in Bong County – north-central of the country – in support to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and Bong County Health Team (BoCHT) implementing a number of programs which contributed to improve access to health services for the general population and the expansion of the Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS). 2014, MdM started a new programme in Monrovia (Montserrado County) aiming at ensuring the provision of health care, psychosocial support and access to rehabilitation services for marginalized people in the ghettos.

Since the beginning of 2014, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are experienced an unprecedented Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic. In Liberia,the distribution of cases shows that five Counties (Montserrado, Margibi, Bong, Nimba and Lofa) are the most affected with Montserrado County being the epicenter of the epidemic. The situation of EVD epidemic is today less critical however an emergency humanitarian crisis is observed with limited access to health care for the non-EVD patients, a food security threat, the rising of commodity prices, logistics and coordination constraints at all levels.

MdM has developed activities since the earlier stage of the EVD epidemic to support Montserrado CHSWT/MOHSW.

MdM has decided to scale up its support to prevent the transmission of Ebola and reduce morbidity and mortality due to EVD Epidemic in Liberia while ensuring maximum safety of MdM staff. The action aims at helping the MOHSW with provision of basic package of health services (BPHS) and trainings on infection control at health facilities and reinforcing its community based sensitization activities in order to prevent new cases among communities.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Referent based in Monrovia is in charge of the implementation, follow-up and supervision of the IPC activities in the support health facilities and MdM office in close consultation with the PHC Referent in the context of the restoration of essential health services in Montserrado County. The IPC Referent reports to the PHC Referent.

More specifically, you:

• Assesse IPC capacities and practices in the supported health facilities and report to the PHC Referent.
• Ensure correct IPC practices and health staff safety implemented effectively in the supported health facilities and MdM office.
• Serve as the focal point for all partners in terms of IPC and waste management
• Identify needs for IPC resources and supplies including PPE and further trainings based on the assessment.
• Immediately report to the PHC Referent if a staff member has Ebola-like syndrome or an incident occurs. Incidents include staff exposure to blood/body fluids from a patient.
• Provide training on IPC and waste management in coordination with relevant partners
• Assesse and ensure correct IPC practices implemented effectively in MdM office.
• Technically supervise and train medical and community health officers of the team on IPC.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Starting: ASAP
• Duration: 2 months
• Contract: VOLUNTEER (French law)
• Monthly allowance: 915 euros / months (+ perdiem)

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

• Medical Doctor, Nurse or Midwife with Master in Public Health.
• Previous experience in similar position
• Experience in the Sub Sahara context
• Experience in outbreak management and emergency response, surveillance system
• Experience with IPC procedures
• Experience in negotiations with local authorities, partners and staff in a critical and stressful context
• Experience in capacity building & in working with national and international medical staff
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at once and conflicting priorities
• Ability to take effective decisions according to the context
• Patience, Flexibility
• Ability to transfer competences and provide capacity building.
• Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability and capacity to take initiatives to changing requirements
• Organisational skills, rigor
• Ability to synthesize
• Listening and diplomacy skills
• Good writing and communication skills inside the team and from widely-varied organizations and agencies
• Team spirit
• Interest for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
• Respectful of a traditional society

You will be committed to MdM’s values as an organisation and be motivated by its non-statutory, Not-For-Profit model

Languages:

• Fluent English (oral and written) mandatory
• French is an asset

MdM stands up for the integration of people living with disabilities and fights against discrimination.