Consultant - Child Health

Posted date: 25-Feb-2010

Location: Hyderabad

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the world’s leading organization working for the rights of children, invites applications for the following position:

Consultant - Child Health
Location: Hyderabad
Duration: 11 months

Purpose:
Under National Rural Health Mission, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is committed to implement several child health interventions viz. Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI), facility based IMCNI, Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK), Low Osmolarity ORS and Zinc etc. UNICEF is supporting Government of Andhra Pradesh to implement these activities effectively. Presently, the Government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing IMNCI in Medak and Warangal Districts with UNICEF support, which Government of Andhra Pradesh intends to scale up to all districts in phased manner.

Under the supervision of Health and Nutrition Specialist, the Consultant Child Health will provide technical support to UNICEF assisted maternal and child health (MCH) activities within the state of Andhra Pradesh

Major Duties and responsibilities:

A. Consolidation of IMNCI in Warangal and Medak Districts, and drawing lessons for other districts and organizing state level review of IMNCI

This would include and not limited to training of remaining untrained staff on IMNCI in Health and ICDS in these districts and the close monitoring and supervision of IMNCI implementation. The Consultant also needs to facilitate roll out of F-IMNCI in these districts in coordination with District Administration, Medical Colleges and NGOs. Consultant will assist organizing a state level review of IMNCI/F-IMNCI

B. Assist Government of Andhra Pradesh scaling-up IMNCI/F-IMNCI and setting-up system to monitor quality of training and implementation

Consultant needs to support Commissionerate of Family Welfare (CFW) and Indian Institute of Health & Family Welfare (IIHFW) developing a plan to scale-up IMNCI/F-IMNCI across the state. In coordination with CFW/IIHFW, Consultant will develop a framework to monitor the progress of IMNCI/F-IMNCI training across in the State. The Consultant will assist Department in developing periodic progress reports.

C. Assist Government of Andhra Pradesh to implement pre-service IMNCI

This includes inclusion of IMNCI and F-IMNCI in medical and nursing curricula. The Consultant needs to work closely with the Director of Medical Education (DME), NTR University of Health Sciences, state chapters of various to professional associations like IAP, NNF, FOGSI, IPHA, IAPSM and Academy of Nursing Studies (ANS).

D. Assist Government of Andhra Pradesh in implementing Navjaat Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (NSSK), Low Osmolarity ORS (LOORS), Zinc and other key child survival interventions

This includes developing a plan and assist GoAP preparing training sites as per the guidelines for NSSK. The Consultant needs to work in collaboration with IAP, Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad (IIPH) and IIHFW. Also Consultant would assist in organizing a state level advocacy event to re-position LOORS and Zinc amongst other child survival interventions.

E. Review progress and provide periodic technical support to implementing partner NGOs in Medak (Catholic Health Association of India) and in Warangal (LODI) districts

F. Any other priority actions emerge during the assignment period

Minimum qualifications:

Incumbent should have Post-graduate Degree or Diploma in Paediatrics/Preventive and Social Medicine/Public Health, with at least 5-8 years experience of working in the field of maternal and child health and development with the Government or Non-Government Sector at State/Regional level. S/he should be well acquainted with NRHM and Reproductive & Child Health Program of the Government of India and its implementation within states. Candidates with proven experience and knowledge in the area of IMNCI and F-IMNCI will get preference.

The incumbent should have ability to plan and execute activities independently at state and district level. Experience in interacting with the district and state government officials as well as grass root communities and ability to work collaboratively and effectively with stakeholders is desirable. S/he must be willing to travel extensively with in the state.

The incumbent must have demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment with strong facilitation skills, ability to analyze reports, plan and monitor projects.

The incumbent should possess high level of computer proficiency with commonly used Windows and MS Office software and database packages.

S/he should have excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Working knowledge of Hindi and Telugu would be an advantage.

Closing date for receipt of applications is COB March 12, 2010.

This vacancy is for Indian nationals only. Applications consisting of a covering letter and an up-to-date CV should be sent to hyderabadunicef.org.

In order to ensure that your application is sorted correctly, please clearly indicate the following on the subject line of your email application: “Application for the post of Consultant Child Health AP”. Only applications of short listed candidates will be acknowledged.

UNICEF IS A SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT
QUALIFIED WOMEN ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.