Programmes:
- Malaria control in Central Asia (Khatlon component only);
- Infectious disease control in Khatlon & RRS, Tajikistan;
- Disaster management in Rasht-Karategin Valley, Tajikistan;
- Tuberculosis control in Khatlon, Tajikistan
Contract duration: 6 Months (with possibility to extend)
Starting date: 1 February 2004
Line Management: Khatlon Medical Team
Technical Supervision of international staff: Rasht Valley Medical officer, Epidemiologist, Health Education Coordinator.
Reporting to:
Regional Medical Coordinator (technical compliance and quality)
Country Manager (program implementation)
Salary: £900-£1400 per month ($1638-$2548) dependent on relevant experience. Plus comprehensive insurance cover, accommodation, return flights, a substantive per diem to cover daily expenses & holiday allowance
1. Programme overview
Merlin began infectious disease control programs in Tajikistan in 1996, and malaria control programs in 1997. Since 1997, the infectious disease control programme in Khatlon Oblast, Tajikistan, has expanded to Rayons (districts) of Republican Subordination (RRS). This program is scheduled to turn over all activities to local authorities during the next 3 years.
In 2002, regional surveillance revealed malaria had spread to the Fergana Valley in south western Kyrgyzstan and border areas of Uzbekistan. In 2003, MERLIN's malaria programme from Khatlon expanded to the affected parts of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. New program offices were opened in Khojand, Tajikistan and Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The Fergana Valley is geographically separated from Southern Tajikistan (Khatlon/RRS) by high mountains. Merlin has employed a technical specialist to coordinate this regional project.
In 2003 Merlin began an emergency preparedness project in the Rasht Valley of RRS Oblast, an area prone to frequent natural disasters, an international medical officer oversees the day-to-day medical program. Merlin also has an ongoing tuberculosis control programme for which additional funding is expected in 2004.
Merlin's primary collaborative partners are the Ministry of Health (MoHs), particularly the Sanitary and Epidemiologic Station (SES) and Centre for Tropical Disease (TDC), and Healthy Living Center (HLC). Merlin also co-operates with a variety of international NGOs, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Role of Tajikistan Medical - Coordinator (Taj Med-Co):
The Taj Med-Co will work closely with the Regional Med-Co and the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) coordinator to promote quality program implementation in Khatlon and RRS, ensure continuous technical representation with partners and donors in Khatlon and Dushanbe, and coordinate day-to-day medical operations and interdepartmental coordination in Khatlon and RRS.
Joint responsibilities for Malaria
The RBM Coordinator is responsible for the overall implementation & technical quality of the Regional Malaria program, including its day to day operations in the Fergana Valley of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Thus in coordination with the RBM Coordinator, the Taj-Med Co, will oversee the Malaria activities of Khatlon, and future activities in Uzbekistan, which will be supported from the Khatlon office. The Taj-Med Co will supervise, report, and closely coordinate with the RBM coordinator based in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
Summary of current programme activities
- Clinical training: organization of clinical training for infectious disease physicians and epidemiologists in Malaria. Training seminars for physicians on- typhoid, dysentery, brucellosis, haemorrhagic fever, anthrax, cholera, and measles.
- Parasitology laboratory equipment and supply distribution: equipment of SES and secondary medical facility labs in Tajikistan. Consumable supplies will also be provided.
- Parasitology laboratory training: TDC conducts malaria laboratory training with Merlin support. There will also be joint monitoring of lab worker performance on the job.
- Primary healthcare worker training: Provision of PHC worker training in basic epidemiology and surveillance, and clinical training consistent with Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI), modified to exclude treatment, in Tajikistan.
- Epidemiology: Disease prevalence studies in selected areas, alongside a bi-annual comprehensive morbidity and mortality survey. Establishment of PHC sentinel surveillance system for three diseases (malaria, ARI, diarrhoeal disease). Training of MoH staff in data management.
- Health education: Support and monitoring local health workers (HLC) activities, and design of materials, media/multimedia campaigns, and community activities.
- Vector control: Training in safe spraying techniques, and provision of spraying equipment and insecticide for control of mosquitoes in case of malaria outbreaks or sustained high morbidity.
- Drug distribution: Distribution of drugs for specified infections (malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea, and pneumonia). Monitoring appropriate usage at 86 health facilities in Khatlon Oblast, and in RRS.
- Bacteriology laboratory equipment and supply distribution: Provision of bacteriology lab equipment, supplies, reagents, stains, etc., covering 32 bacteriology labs in Khatlon Oblast, and RRS.
- Laboratory training: Merlin conducts training for lab workers on bacteriologic methods. Lab worker performance is also monitored on the job.
- Disease investigation: Merlin has a group of national physicians who accompany the regional or local authorities in investigating diseases of public health significance.
- Outbreak response: In the event that an investigation reveals a large problem beyond the capacity of local health workers, Merlin mobilises to assist. Recent examples have included 2 large measles epidemics and a large typhoid outbreak.
- Disaster management: in Rasht Valley, emphasises training (first aid, emergency preparedness, PHC worker disease recognition and surveillance) and pre-positioning of medical supplies. Establishment of community managed early warning system.
- Tuberculosis facility rehabilitation: Merlin has begun work on physical rehabilitation of TB labs and an outpatient clinic in Khatlon Oblast along with re-equipping & supplying the labs and providing lab training. Future plans include the development of a DOTS treatment programme.
2. General Duties (under the direction of the Regional Medical Co-ordinator (RMC))
Ensure the effective implementation of projects in Khatlon and RRS (Rasht Valley.) I.e. Provide overall technical supervision for the infectious disease control programme, disaster management programme, and pending tuberculosis programme in Tajikistan, in co-ordination with involved staff
Closely coordinate with the Roll Back Malaria Coordinator, by providing supervision for the malaria control programme in Khatlon, and ensuring implementation to international standards, in co-ordination with the various programme co-ordinators.
Represent Merlin from both programmatic and health/technical perspective to national and regional governmental bodies, international agencies, other NGOs, and donors
Ensure systematic procedures for medical evacuations, along with RMC
Write or edit the medical and programmatic portions of all required reports to London headquarters, donors, governmental bodies, NGO partners, and others
Contribute/advise the CMT on medical and public health issues pertinent to MERLIN direction.
Contribute to the medical/public health components of new program proposals, in coordination with the CMT.
Specific Duties:
Assist project co-ordinators in planning & monitor program activities.
Order & monitor distribution of all drugs and medical supplies, in collaboration with the project co-ordinators.
Monitor the budget for training, drugs, and medical supplies, in collaboration with the logistician and financial controller.
Provide guidance to national doctors, to ensure that they follow Merlin policy and international standards.
Assist with medical recruitment, including designing job descriptions and interviewing applicants
Review, edit, and revise all technical reports prepared by Merlin staff.
Closely work with the Epidemiologist on preparing publications, press releases/public reports, and operational research activities.
Line manage Medical team in Khatlon, and coordinate program activities, reporting, and scheduling amongst Epidemiology, Health Education, and Medical teams.
In the event of a natural disaster or epidemic, coordinate with Regional Med-Co to organize MERLIN's response, and assist the PC to guide the response as needed.
Chair Health Coordination meetings as necessary in Khatlon
3. Position requirements
Essential
Qualified physician with clinical experience, significant infectious disease experience (clinical and programmatic), and some malaria experience.
Public health training or experience, with good understanding of epidemiology.
Fluent spoken & written English language
At least one year co-ordination & representational experience in a humanitarian context
Demonstrated ability to represent at Ministry of Health and UN levels
Previous supervisory experience (national and international staff), at least two years
Excellent management and communications skills
Ability to analyse and interpret health data
Ability to formulate public health responses to changing disease patterns, in collaboration with field team, consultants, and MoH representatives
Ability to write clear and concise reports
Ability to work independently to a high professional standard
Sensitive to the cultural & political environment, and interest to learn about Tajik Health systems and circumstances.
Basic computer skills, including Word, Excel, internet
Adaptable and practical
Diplomatic and patient
Ability to work in climactic extremes with regular travel
Desirable/advantageous
Considerable clinical experience, particularly in tropical diseases in a developing country context (for the programme) and in general medicine (for expat health)
Tropical medicine qualification (such as DTM&H [British] or Certificate of Knowledge in Tropical Medicine and Travellers' Health [American])
Russian language skills (Tajik, Farsi, or Uzbek would also be advantageous)
Previous experience in Central Asia or former Soviet Union, particularly the health sector
Familiarity with epidemiological/statistical programmes such as EpiInfo, SPSS, SAS
For further information:
Joy Guillemot
Tajikistan Country Manager
Dushanbe Tajikistan
Taj-cm@merlin.org.uk
