Public Health Associate - Jobs in Algeria

Job Description

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)Family Type (not applicable for home-based)FamilyStaff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS LICA6Target Start Date2023-04-01-07:00Job Posting End DateFebruary 28, 2023Terms of ReferenceUNHCR has been accredited to the People?s Democratic Republic of Algeria, a signatory to the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees, since 1984. It provides protection and assistance to persons of concern in both urban and camp settings.UNHCR?s urban operation, based in Algiers, serves more than 12,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. At the request of the Algerian authorities, UNHCR undertakes registration and status determination for asylum-seekers and helps them to secure durable solutions once recognized as refugees. Owing to natural and human-made crises regional and global in nature, there has been a sharp escalation in the number of individuals seeking asylum in Algiers. In 2022, these have numbered as high as 500 per month.UNHCR?s Sub-Office in Tindouf provides protection and assistance to Saharawi refugees living n five camps in a remote location in the southwest of the country, near Algeria?s borders with Western Sahara, Mauritania and Morocco. The people UNHCR serves in Tindouf are the organization?s longest standing refugee population. For nearly 50 years the Saharawi refugees have contended with the a remote, desert landscape with frequent sandstorms and floods. These environmental difficulties have been exacerbated by water challenges, limited education and livelihoods opportunities, the COVID pandemic and, most recently, food and energy inflation, with no improvement in the prospect of durable solutions. UNHCR?s multi-year strategy 2022-2024 will be complemented soon by a Regional Refugee Response Plan setting out in a single document the work of all partners in all areas. Owing to the protracted nature of the situation and the hyper political sensitivity concerning the Saharawi refugee population, it has been difficult for UNHCR to attract and sustain attention to the operation and sufficient resources for it.In urban settings refugees and asylum seekers have free access to primary health care services i.e free medical consultation, basic laboratory and medical imagining, basic dentistry care as well as reproductive health services. However, access to medication and complementary medical explorations is still very limited due to the high cost of such services. PoCs are not included in the national insurance plan, therefore they have to pay for drugs and most of the advanced medical exams. In addition to the financial barriers, cultural and language barriers constitute the main factors hampering access to quality health services in the urban settings. UNHCR and its health partner, Algerian Red Crescent (CRA), are making huge efforts for a better inclusion of most vulnerable PoCs in the national health system and consider them in the national insurance scheme. PoC are referred in a daily basis to public and private health structures in order to cover the most pressing needs in terms of health. the demand was doubled during the previous two years and the workload generated by the reference of individual cases has doubled too, therefore the engagement of a dedicated staff for the medical reference as well as follow up on individual cases became a necessity. therefore, the new incumbent will be mainly in charge of managing individual cases in need of health care through the existing medical referral pathway, liaising with CBP and protection on GBV and minors related topics and resettlement unit on MAF and emergency resettlements, as well as giving health counselling through the hotline if need be. He will be also responsible of elaborating a tracking system (database) to monitor the evolution of referrals and the cost generated in addition of monitoring the cost recovery system related to medicines and medical consultation in private sector.English and French are essential.Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.ÿStandard Public Health Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Public Health Associate supports UNHCR effort to minimise avoidable mortality and morbidity among population of concern (PoC). The incumbent establishes appropriate consultative and monitoring framework and provides technical guidance to Partners and coordinates health activities within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). The incumbent usually reports to a more senior Public Health colleague. S/he will be a member of the public health team and will also be the focal point for the health information system (HIS) within the AoR. The Public Health Associate will follow up with health agencies to ensure timely submission of weekly or monthly HIS reports, assess the quality of the reports as well as provide on-site supervision of the health information system. This will include training of providers both formal and on the job, assessment of the quality of camp clinic registers and other components of camp HIS. The Public Health Associate will also liaise with WHO and the Ministry of Heath on the health information system. All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¨s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity. Duties- Assist the supervisor in implementing UNHCR Public Health programme based on updated needs assessments and through Partners.- Regularly monitor the performance of Partner(s) providing quality health services within the AoR in accordance with (inter)national guidelines and protocols. - Regularly monitor the quality and effectiveness of health services within the AoR, report findings and address issues to the supervisor for follow up. - Assist in proper coordination with officials of relevant institutions involved in planning and implementation of assistance to PoC.- Conduct frequent analysis of cases submitted for public health activities and provide statistics when requested.- Conduct frequent follow up on the monitoring and evaluation sheets provided by Partners, conduct needed analysis and provide data when requested.- Assist in effective communication with other units within UNHCR and Partners, including orientation on health projects/activities.- Conduct regular monitoring for any changes in the policy of the Ministry of Health on health services provision to PoC within the AoR.- Provide project control with the estimated budget of any health project within the AoR on a regular basis.- Conduct regular refresher training for all relevant staff and Partners.- Ensure effective tracking of the inpatients from partner clinics to the out contracted hospitals.- Assist in effective communication with Health Unit, implementing partners and out contracted hospital¨s focal person and selected PH facilities.- Provide support to Partner(s) to ensure correct use of the Health Information System (HIS) and address problems with HIS data collection and submission in a timely manner.- Attend and follow up activities of the health committee where decisions on tertiary care treatment are taken.- Prepare and provide collated health data for submission in donor reports and health unit fact sheets as well as other documents.- Assist in telephone counselling and face to face counselling of PoC if required. - Review medical bills against standard payment lists.- Take action and initiate measures to mitigate risks to the Organization from inappropriate charges relating to medical bills.- Take action to ensure quality health information system reports that contribute to the quality of primary, secondary and tertiary health care services for refugees.- Perform other related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications Education & Professional Work ExperienceYears of Experience / Degree LevelFor G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable; Certificates and/or Licenses *Health related clinical qualification; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job ExperienceEssential:Not specified.Desirable:Health data collection e.g. patient information management systems, heath information systems and related technology. Functional Skills *IT-Computer LiteracyPR-Refugee Protection Principles and FrameworkMD-Assessment of quality standards of health facilitiesPH-Community Health-Health Data Collection/Analysis/InterpretationMD-Health Information Systems (HIS)MD-UN-wide health care policies and protocols (e.g. medical evacuation procedures, etc.)CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential) Language Requirements For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English. All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power. As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise. This is a Standard for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.Required Languages ,Desired Languages ,Additional QualificationsSkillsEducationCertificationsWork ExperienceOther informationOnly shortlited candidates will be contacted for a written test that is complementary to the interview.This position doesnt require a functional clearance

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