Position Summary

The Program Officer, Global Health Security will work with the District Health Team and the district-based program teams to implement Global Health Security activities in the assigned district(s). S/he will work closely with the District Health Officer, the District Surveillance Focal Person, health facility in-charges, Village Health Teams to implement activities that strengthen prevention, early detection and response to outbreaks including cross-border preparedness and response for BEVD in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.

Duties and responsibilities

• Work with the District Health Officer, District Surveillance Focal Person and District Health Team to develop, implement and monitor GHS workplans and budgets for the district(s).
• Support the District Task Force (DTF) to hold regular meetings and to update district contingency and emergency preparedness and response plans and readiness assessments.
• Coordinate with other partners and local government departments (veterinary, environment) at district level.
• Support health facilities and Village Health Teams (VHTs) in indicator and event-based surveillance, alert verification, and timely weekly (eIDSR/DHIS2) reporting.
• Strengthen data quality, analysis and use at district and facility level to guide early action.
• Support rapid response team readiness, outbreak investigations, contact tracing and line listing during outbreaks.
• Strengthen IPC, triage, isolation and case management capacity in health facilities and designated treatment or isolation units.
• Coordinate risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) working with VHTs, local, cultural and religious leaders.
• Support implementation of cross-border activities including joint meetings, information sharing, alert notification and joint investigations.
• Support screening, referral and reporting at designated points of entry in the district.
• Conduct mentorship and skilling for health workers, VHTs and DTF members on IDSR, IPC, RCCE, case definitions and reporting.
• Contribute documentation of best practices, success stories and lessons learned from the supported district(s).
• Perform any other duties as requested and assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Environmental Health, Veterinary Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or a related field (Master’s in Public Health is an added advantage)
• At least 3 years of experience in public health programming, surveillance, outbreak response or community health, preferably at district level in Uganda
• Working knowledge of IDSR, the district health system and Uganda’s outbreak response structures
• Experience working in border, refugee or humanitarian settings is an added advantage
• Training in field epidemiology (FETP-Frontline or equivalent), IPC or emergency management is an added advantage
• Experience working with local government/districts and willingness to work upcountry
• Excellent written, oral communication and facilitation skills
• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Work with the District Health Officer, District Surveillance Focal Person and District Health Team to develop, implement and monitor GHS workplans and budgets for the district(s).
• Support the District Task Force (DTF) to hold regular meetings and to update district contingency and emergency preparedness and response plans and readiness assessments.
• Coordinate with other partners and local government departments (veterinary, environment) at district level.
• Support health facilities and Village Health Teams (VHTs) in indicator and event-based surveillance, alert verification, and timely weekly (eIDSR/DHIS2) reporting.
• Strengthen data quality, analysis and use at district and facility level to guide early action.
• Support rapid response team readiness, outbreak investigations, contact tracing and line listing during outbreaks.
• Strengthen IPC, triage, isolation and case management capacity in health facilities and designated treatment or isolation units.
• Coordinate risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) working with VHTs, local, cultural and religious leaders.
• Support implementation of cross-border activities including joint meetings, information sharing, alert notification and joint investigations.
• Support screening, referral and reporting at designated points of entry in the district.
• Conduct mentorship and skilling for health workers, VHTs and DTF members on IDSR, IPC, RCCE, case definitions and reporting.
• Contribute documentation of best practices, success stories and lessons learned from the supported district(s).
• Perform any other duties as requested and assigned by the supervisor.

• Excellent written, oral communication and facilitation skills
• Computer proficiency in Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Environmental Health, Veterinary Medicine, Biomedical Sciences or a related field (Master’s in Public Health is an added advantage)
• At least 3 years of experience in public health programming, surveillance, outbreak response or community health, preferably at district level in Uganda
• Working knowledge of IDSR, the district health system and Uganda’s outbreak response structures
• Experience working in border, refugee or humanitarian settings is an added advantage
• Training in field epidemiology (FETP-Frontline or equivalent), IPC or emergency management is an added advantage
• Experience working with local government/districts and willingness to work upcountry