Medical Coordinator

Medecind du Monde

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization providing medical care to vulnerable populations while fighting for equal access to healthcare worldwide. MdM is currently working in a project in Sindhupalchowk aiming at reducing maternal and newborn mortality, through combined microfinance and sexual and reproductive health services (SRH). Besides, MdM will explore in 2015 opportunities to develop a new project in the field of SRH and rights.

Details / requirements:

MEDECINS DU MONDE FRANCE seeks

A Medical Coordinator

For Nepal/Kathmandu with frequent field visits to Chautara field office and remote VDC’s in Sindhupalchowk District

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organisation whose mission is to provide medical care for the most vulnerable populations, the world over, including France. It seeks to stimulate voluntary commitment from doctors, other health care providers, and from those whose expertise in other fields is needed for its activities, to enlist all competent support required for the achievement of its projects, and to seek at all times to encourage close working relationships with populations in its care.

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde, a campaigning medical organization 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 organization 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 41 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.

MdM has worked in Nepal since 1995 on a range of different health interventions (TB/HIV, maternal and new born program, microfinance and disaster preparedness etc.). Between 2007 and 2015, MdM was implementing in Sindhupalchowk District a maternal and newborn health program in line with the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) strategy. The focus of this programme was to improve the maternal and newborn health in the district using an integrated approach, combining health service support, community awareness and microfinance activities.

On 25th April 2015 a massive earthquake measuring 7.8 in the Richter scale was experienced in Nepal. Barpak VDC in Gorkha district, 80km northwest of Kathmandu was the epicenter. Continued aftershocks followed throughout Nepal with one reaching a magnitude of 6.7 the following day. On 12th May 2015, another large aftershock with a magnitude of 6.8 hit Nepal incurring more losses of lives and infrastructure, particularly in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk districts. In Sindhupalchowk, more than 3500 people lost their lives, thousands of others were injured, and it is estimated than 70% of the infrastructures have been destroyed. More than 90% of the health facilities (75 out of 79) were destroyed or damaged leaving the population with no or limited access to health services while leaving in very remote areas.

As a direct response to the disaster caused by the earthquakes, MdM sent an exploratory mission to Nepal two days after the first earthquake as surge capacity to support the existing MdM presence in country, and began implementing an Emergency / Early Recovery Program from May 2015 until present (this first phase will run until end of January 2016). MdM is now undertaking strategic planning process to define our activities for the next phase of our programming – January to December 2016 - with the focus being on supporting the early recovery of the continuum of primary health care services in Sindhupalchowk.

Among the achievements of MdM for the earthquake response were provision of comprehensive PHC services through mobile clinics via land and via air to remote villages in Sindhupalchowk district; support to public health facilities (PHCCs and HPs) through provision of medical drugs, materials and equipment; help in enhancing the Surveillance and Outbreak Response in the district and full support DHO in disease outbreak investigation and response; donations of surgical equipment and medical supplies to the Tertiary Hospitals in Kathmandu ( Bir and Maternity Hospitals -tertiary referral hospital of MDM); capacity building to the health workers and the community leaders and village health volunteers on PHC, First Aid Response and Psychological First Aid, SRH and on GBVs. This also includes rehabilitation and refurbishments of 18 PHC health facilities, and the DHO Office. We have also undertaken Contingency Planning (prepositioning of essential drugs and medical supplies) for any possible outbreak or disaster that might happen in the district. 

MdM is at present planning the next phase of activities for our Nepal programme – with the main thrust being a year of ‘early recovery’ activities - support to the implementation of PHC, SRH, GBV and emergency preparedness strategies within Sindhupalchowk. The management of the Nepal programme within MdM will shift from the Emergency Desk back to the Asia Desk in the Development Department in January 2016.

MdM is now looking for a competent and well-experienced Medical Coordinator who will be responsible for the implementation of all medical activities as we transition from the Emergency to the Early Recovery phase, and be a key member of the senior programme management staff as activities for 2016 are prepared and start to be implemented. The post is initially envisaged for 6 months, with the possibility of renewal.

TASKS AND RESPONSABILITIES: 

The medical coordinator is in charge of the implementation, follow up and supervision of the different medical activities in Nepal.

Team management 

  • Direct Supervision of the Assistant Medical Coordinator, SRH Adviser, PHC supervisors concerning technical aspect and health activities implementation.
  • Support and give supervision to the PHC Technical Teams and the MH and SRH Teams on the focused VDCs in Sindhupalchowk, including the on the job training supports to the local health workers on the curative and preventive care of communicable and non-communicable diseases, reproductive health, Family Planning, Health Education, surveillance system at the district level, and disease outbreak investigation and response.
  • Provide technical supervision and support to the PHC supervisors in providing direct support to the DHO senior officers in proper management of national and/or district health programs at the district level.
  • Organise regular meetings and dialogues with the medical team to identify the success and challenges being faced by the medical team in implementation of their respective activities and make necessary recommendations/suggestions.
  • Participate to the recruitment of any additional local medical staffs
  • Provide technical support to the mental Health Team if necessary. 
  • Coordination at the Health Cluster meetings at national level and at the Chautara level. 
  • Identify skills and knowledge that are necessary to enhance the capacity of the national medical teams of MDM and provide the necessary trainings needed.

Program Management 

  • Participate to  the development of the general strategy on MdM activities with the General Coordinator and the team
  • To make sure the different components of the program are consistent and in link with the health gaps identified.
  • To react to any change by adapting the program if necessary (outbreaks, new needs arising, opening of new programs, etc.)
  • To participate to the Implementation of medical activities in link with the needs of the focused VDCs 
  • Conducting Health Needs Assessments for communities where the health needs are immediately needed, as requested by DHO, MOHP and partners if needed.
  • Identify, monitor and report unmet health needs/gaps, and explore the potential of the MDM to address them immediately.
  • To analyse, and monitor the regular medical datas received from the focused PHC health facilities, and provide feedbacks to the medical team, DHO and the focused health facilities.
  • To actively participate on the regular joint monitoring and supervision with the DHO Team  on the focused VDCs and its health facilities on a regular basis
  • To cooperate with the administration team regarding budget-related issues to medical purchases
  • Providing regular feedbacks to the General Coordinator on the updates with the implementation of activities and challenges, including impending problems that may occur.
  • Ensuring that the objectives of this mission are fulfilled through regular monitoring and evaluation of its activities and ensuring that end-targets are accomplished in time. 
  • Able to provide technical support for other program activities on the health information system, drug and waste management, referral system, and on GBV.

Coordination with NGOs, MoH, local associations

  • To participate to the different medical meetings especially on the regular meetings at Chautara level and Kathmandu level (for example, Health Cluster meetings and working groups) playing a key role in any relevant medical coordination mechanisms, and be pro-active in the technical working groups that are created to answer the pressing health issues that need immediate action 
  • To ensure coordination and work in close collaboration with partners 
  • To evaluate the needs and request of our partners 
  • Submit to regular narrative Medical Reports and update Health Cluster Leads (DHO and MOHP) 
  • Build collaboration and partnership with other stakeholders like INGOs, local NGOs and UN agencies who are working on health and its sub-clusters like Reproductive Health, WASH, and GBV clusters.
  • Provide regular monitoring, evaluation, and feedback of the health activities being done by the medical team. 
  • To participate in the writing of donors activity reports and proposals.

Management of medical stock and logistic chain for medical purchase

  • Ensure that drug orders ( essential drugs and medical supplies for the Contingency Planning) are in line with national and international protocols
  • To ensure the supervision of the pharmacy (consumptions, orders & inventory) in link with logistic team
  • Coordination with HQ on MDM standard, following the QuaMed Standard.

This list of activities is not exhaustive and may change depending on the situation.

Under the direct supervision of General Coordinator of the MdM Nepal programme and in collaboration with the Technical Advisers, the Desk and the ‘Mission Responsible’ (RM) at the MdM Headquarters in Paris. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Status: Salaried
  • Contract: Fixed-term contract   
  • Duration: 6 months (renewable)
  • Starting date: ASAP Ideally 15 October 2015

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NEEDED:

  • Experience in humanitarian organization, in emergency context
  • Experience in coordination
  • Senior Medical Doctor or a Senior Nurse,  with Masters in Public Health
  • At least 5 years of significant experiences, working internationally or locally (Nepal) in managing / supervising Primary Health Care (PHC), Surveillance System support, and/or Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) program activities. 
  • Have knowledge, competency and skills on public health aspects of PHC and SRH, including surveillance system and disease outbreak response. 
  • Have excellent communication and negotiation skills in dealing with national and district health authorities, partners and staff in a post-disaster context
  • Very good experiences in working with the communities and in mobilizing them for better health outcomes.
  • Experiences in programme planning, monitoring, evaluation and training.
  • Ability to take quick decisions according to the context in coordination with the team 
  • Reactivity, anticipation, adaptability, capacity to take initiatives
  • Organizational skills  
  • Good writing and communication skills 
  • Ability to manage priorities 
  • Team spirit
  • Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills and ability to work smoothly in difficult working environment
  • Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
  • Interest for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law
  • Capacity to work and to live in sometimes difficult conditions (climate, cultural context, isolation when staying in the field camps)
  • English: Very Good level of speaking and writing
  • French and Nepali: An asset
  • Computer skills: Fair knowledge of windows environment (word, excel)

You are committed to MdM values as an organization and motivated by its non-statutory, NFP model.

INTERESTED?

Please send a CV to: info.mdmfrance@gmail.com

Deadline for submission is on: 09/10/2015

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Overview

Category Development and Project
Openings 1
Experience 5+ years
Education M.P.H. (Masters in Public Health)
Posted Date 30 Sep, 2015
Apply Before 09 Oct, 2015
City