Job
description
The International
Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH), based in Seattle at the
University of Washington, was established in 2002. I-TECH is funded by the
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention under the US
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR). I-TECH activities primarily focus on providing technical assistance
to extend existing capacity for Human Resource for Health (HRH) in conjunction
with the Government of Malawi, Ministry of Health (MoH). I-TECH also works with
Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) and Nurses and Midwives Council
of Malawi (NMCM) among other stakeholders.The Ministry of Health (MOH) endorsed
the establishment of the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) in November
2012. The aim of PHIM is to provide leadership in surveillance, research,
prevention, and control of diseases of public health importance. PHIM realizes
that to effectively achieve its goals, the institute needs to have a robust and
strong disease surveillance and response system that is able to timely detect
and respond to public health threats and emergencies. This is in line with the
efforts of the MOH to strengthen the Integrated Diseases Surveillance and
Response (IDSR) as per World Health Organizations (WHO) recommendations. The
IDSR system aims to improve the ability of districts to detect and respond to diseases
and conditions that cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. The IDSR is
also the main strategy for implementing activities included in the
International Health Regulations (IHR).
The Public Health
Institute of Malawi (PHIM), with technical assistance from CDC, will initiate
the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) course to improve the
surveillance, epidemiologic investigation, response and scientific
communication skills of public health workers at each level of the health
system based on a 3 tier program design: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.
FETPs produce actionable information so that public health workers can use
science and data to detect and monitor disease outbreaks and determine public
health policy and programming. The Advanced Tier training program will be
equivalent to a Masters level degree and will be delivered in collaboration
with the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine. The program’s goal is the
production of an adequate number of highly qualified Malawian epidemiologists
with applied field epidemiology practical skills.
The primary purpose
of the Resident Advisor (RA) position is to ensure successful implementation
and development of the FETP within the Ministry of Health through the Public
Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will administratively report to the Country
Director of I-TECH Malawi and on technical matters will report to the Head of
Public Health Institute of Malawi. The RA will serve as a member of the FETP
Team to strengthen the technical mentoring of the field epidemiology component
of the FETP. The RA will be responsible for coordinating the course and
mentoring the students with the help of other mentors who will be identified
within country. The RA will prepare and submit to PHIM and CDC, quarterly
technical and periodic reports on training activities as well as regularly
update PHIM, CDC, the Ministry of Health and other local stakeholders in
country as necessary for decision making, information sharing and
communication.
Duties and
Responsibilities
Strategic and
Technical Leadership (40%)
- Support
PHIM in the organization of a Technical Committee to guide FETP
implementation.
- Advise
PHIM and MOH in the identification and acquisition of training
opportunities for trainee projects, and sources of funding that help
secure annual budgets for the adequate development of an institutionalized
FETP
- Facilitate
the coordination of stakeholder and dissemination meetings on FETP in the
country
- Assist
Ministry of Health to develop adequate and timely field investigations in
response to acute public health problems such as epidemic outbreaks,
clusters of disease cases, and case investigations
- Participate
in disease surveillance and outbreak investigation and response activities
of the MOH together with the trained public health officers
- Provide
technical support and assistance to public health activities, which are
coordinated by Global Health Security (GHS) and FETP-Branch in
coordination with other CDC Teams and the PHIM and MOH
- Serve
as liaison between PHIM, CDC, the MOH, and agency partners, to coordinate
GHS activities in the country
Training and
Instructional Design (45%)
- Work
with technical staff at PHIM, CDC, the MOH and other partners in country
to develop and implement a training plan for a field epidemiology for
public health professional at the basic and intermediate levels.
- Provide
guidance in the review and adaptation of the existing basic and
intermediate field epidemiology curricula as may be required in
consultation with PHIM, CDC, the MOH, WHO and other partners in country.
- Participate
in the process of identifying participants for the basic and intermediate
field epidemiology training.
- Assist
with the selection and training of FETP graduates of First Tier Basic and
Intermediate level as national mentors for FETP Fellows
- In
collaboration with PHIM, MOH, CDC and other identified partners, ensure
availability of all the required logistics for the didactic and field
training of selected participants.
- Conduct
the planned basic and intermediate field epidemiology training which will
include both theory and practical components.
- Provide
guidance to the national mentors and FETP fellows at intermediate level,
in the design and implementation of applied epidemiological research
projects to fulfil the requirements of the training.
- Coordinate
with PHIM, MOH and other training institutions to integrate content of
basic and intermediate field epidemiology training into in-service
curriculum for appropriate MOH staff.
- Maintaining
the scientific excellence of the program through coaching, providing
scientific and technical guidance to students and evaluation of the
trainees.
Mentorship and
Supportive Supervision (15%)
- Provide
mentorship and supervision for the candidates during the period of
practical field attachments.
- Provide
supportive training for MOH supervisors and mentors for basic FETP
trainees
- Assist
national mentors and FETP fellows of intermediate level in the design and
implementation of applied epidemiological research projects
- Provide
technical guidance to trainees in preparing their presentations for
national dissemination of their findings and recommendations of course
projects from field practical attachments.
How
to apply
Apply on the University
of Washington website.
