Program Officer (Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention – Lymphatic Filariasis)
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Full-time
- Opportunity Type: Current Opening
Company Description
Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization, currently implementing more than 180 programs, reaching more than 40 million people across 35 African countries, and a staff complement of over 2,000. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in ten African countries – Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea (Conakry), Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. An additional eleven advocacy and fundraising offices are located in Europe and North America.
Amref Health Africa is driven by its vision of ‘Lasting health change in Africa’ and its mission ‘To catalyse and drive community-led and people-centred health systems while addressing social determinants of health.’ We believe that the power to transform Africa’s health lies within its communities and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for delivering of quality and affordable health care.
Job Description
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The goal of the National Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis is to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem within the endemic regions of Kenya. The program aims to interrupt disease transmission through (i) Mass Drug Administration targeting the entire ‘at risk’ population and (ii) Improving the quality of life of those with clinical signs of chronic infection through Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP). The program is implemented in six endemic coastal counties of Kenya- Lamu, Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, Taita Taveta, and Tana River, in partnership with National government and County governments’ Ministry of Health.
POSITION SUMMARY
We seek a dynamic, experienced, and highly organized individual to work with the Ministry of Health in Kenya to provide technical expertise and support in the design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) interventions. The job holder will be fully seconded to the Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit within the Ministry of Health. During the program’s design, planning, implementation, and evaluation phases, he/ she will work closely and collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international partners. The position will be based in Nairobi, with regular travels to the field to capacity-build sub-national level healthcare workers and provide technical support to county and national governments. This role requires a solid understanding of managing patients with clinical symptoms associated with Lymphatic Filariasis and assessing health and disability associated with LF as recommended in the World Health Organization guidelines.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Program Management
- Ensure the MMDP program is designed and implemented in line with national and international guidelines.
- Represent the program at the County level with government and stakeholders, including TWGs, TAGs, Conferences.
- Develop detailed work plans, budgets, and timelines to ensure the effective execution of MMDP activities.
- Foster collaboration and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders for effective evidence-based program delivery in accordance with national and international guidelines
- Work with various NTD stakeholders to coordinate the integration of NTD MMDP services within community outreaches.
2. Technical Expertise
- Support in developing Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention training material, with a specific focus on filarial lymphoedema management.
- Support in the development of nursing care packages for patients who have undergone hydrocelectomy.
- Assess, formulate, plan, and implement evidence-based nursing care for hydrocele and lymphoedema patients.
- Provide technical guidance to field teams and partners working on filarial MMDP interventions.
- Stay up to date with the latest research, best practices, and innovations on MMDP interventions.
3. Advocacy and Communication
- Advocate for increased attention, funding, and political commitment to MMDP interventions at national and county levels.
- Develop and disseminate educational materials and communication campaigns to raise awareness on filarial MMDP and its impact of public health.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning
- Support all MMDP M&E initiatives for the LF program, including routinely working with sub-national healthcare workers to monitor the progress of lymphoedema patients and hydrocelectomy/ herniorrhaphy patient outcomes.
- Support VBNTDU to perform supportive supervision field visits to ensure the validation and verification of the MMDP data collected for accuracy in reporting & database updating.
- Support operational research endeavors, documentation, and evidence to guide innovative MMDP approaches.
- Monitor and evaluate the progress of MMDP interventions, analyze data, and propose adaptive measures to improve program efficiency and effectiveness.
- Conducting periodic patient audits to improve client /patient care.
- Monitor program indicators and outcomes to assess the impact of MMDP interventions and identify gaps/ areas for improvement.
5. Capacity Building
- Continuously support capacity-building sessions for sub-national healthcare workers on LF MMDP.
- Collaborate with national and county health authorities to enhance their capacities in NTD MMDP interventions not limited to surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
- Work with various stakeholders to develop and embed NTD MMDP modules within the CHV training curriculum.
- Conduct training sessions and workshops for healthcare professionals, community health workers, and other stakeholders to enhance their knowledge and skills in NTD MMDP interventions.
6. Reporting and Documentation
- Preparing and submitting timely and accurate reports on MMDP activities.
- Support quarterly donor reporting requirements of the LF Program.
- Work with Amref’s communication team to document successful, impactful stories for broader dissemination.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Degree in Clinical Medicine from a recognized institution; Master’s degree in Public Health or any health-related course an added advantage.
- Registration certificate and valid practicing license.
- Familiarity with WHO guidelines and strategies for LF MMDP.
- At least three years’ experience in providing nursing care with an added advantage of working within the NTD sector.
- Shown merit and ability as reflected in work performance and results.
- Strong program management skills; strategic about achieving set objectives.
- Agile and able to simultaneously manage and ensure quality execution of multiple tasks.
- Detail-oriented, excellent in oral and written communication, with strong analytical skills.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
Competences
- Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Highly adaptable to the ever-evolving NTD landscape.
- Honesty and high on integrity.
Additional Information
Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. Closing date will be Tuesday 6th May 2025.
Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Although Amref may use different job boards from time to time to further spread its reach for applicants, all open vacancies are published on our website under the Vacancies page and on our official social media pages. Kindly also note that official emails from Amref Health Africa will arrive from an @amref.org address.
Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is is dedicated to diversity and is an equal-opportunity employer with a non-smoking environment policy.
