POSITION: Medical Coordinator with country representation experience
PROGRAMME: Increasing access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in Shida Kartli Region, Georgia
RESPONSIBLE TO: Desk Manager, London HQ.
LOCATION: Shida Kartli Region, Georgia. (main base in Gori)
START DATE: Immediate
DURATION: Project due to finish December 31st, 2005
ALLOWANCE: £1,800 per month. Plus comprehensive insurance cover, accommodation, return flights, a per diem to cover daily living expenses ($15 per day), and holiday allowance ($145 per month)
Merlin
Merlin is a humanitarian Non-Governmental Organization, providing health care to people in crises. This assistance is targeted at the most vulnerable populations, who have the greatest health needs and poorest access to healthcare provision. Merlin provides health care to populations regardless of race, religion or political affiliation to support people affected by war or natural disaster, anywhere in the world. Merlin works within existing local health structures and collaborates with other agencies to increase efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance. Merlin currently supports health programmes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, Georgian Republic, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russian Republic.
Merlin Georgia
The tuberculosis programme in Georgia started in September 2002. Against a background of a moderately high burden of TB (around 90 new cases per 100,000 per year) Merlin has worked with the TB services in Shida Kartli region (150km west of Tiblisi) to improve diagnostic laboratories, train health personnel, and reduce treatment failure rates. Significant improvements have been seen in the previously high default rate as a result of Merlin's inputs. Within the TB dispensary at Gori a special short stay ward for TB patients has been created and is now operational. An important element of the programme is to move the day to day management of TB to the community by using outreach nurses to supervise and deliver drugs. In the final year of the programme this community approach will be the main focus of activity, in line with the Georgian National Tuberculosis Control strategy for the future.
Responsibilities
- Overall responsibility for all in-country activities
- Liaison with the National TB Programme office in Tbilisi
- Liaison with the Regional TB specialist and TB services for Shida Kartli Region
- Assist with development of the new short stay TB ward in Gori
- Support and monitor four newly rehabilitated TB diagnostic laboratories in the region
- Strengthen selected community health facilities to enable TB patients to receive all treatment at home through a sustainable and properly monitored system.
- Continue activities related to monitoring and record keeping already started during the Merlin programme.
- Continue to develop educational materials and take part in activities designed to reduce the high levels of stigma associated with TB in Georgia
- Meet regularly with partners (other NGOs, MoH staff and donors)
- Explore and develop possibilities for future funding for TB and Primary Health Care programmes - which will involve regular donor liaison
- Prepare regular reports for London office and the donor agency - both narrative and financial reports
- Responsible for supervising project finances and accounting
- Line management of national staff team
- Carry out appraisals as per Merlin standard requirements and procedures
- Support team members professionally and monitor and support stress management
- Responsible for capacity development and training of national medical personnel
Person Specification
Essential
- Public Health, Nursing or Medical qualification
- Good knowledge of modern methods of tuberculosis control
- Public health training or experience
- Adaptable and practical
- Previous supervisory experience
- Excellent management and communications skills
- Ability to analyze and interpret health data
- Ability to write clear and concise reports
- Fluent spoken & written English language
- Ability to work independently to a high professional standard
- Sensitivity to the cultural & political environment
- Competent Microsoft office computing skills: Word, Excel, Outlook
- Prepared to work in climatic extremes and to travel frequently on poor roads in mountainous snowy areas.
Desirable/advantageous
- Previous experience in Russia, Georgia or Central Asian countries
- Knowledge of Russian or Georgian languages
Please note that this is an unaccompanied position.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Due to the urgency of this position, applications will be shortlisted on a regular basis and we may offer this post before the closing date.
Please note, on submitting your application, you are agreeing to Merlin holding and using the information that you have given for the purposes of recruitment and employment - should an offer be made. In order to process your job application, it may be necessary for your CV to be sent to the Country Manager (in the country you are applying for) for consideration. If you do not agree with this, please can you state so when applying
