AFENET Non-profit Careers – Immunization Study Coordinator

Organization: African Field
Epidemiology Network (AFENET)
Duty Station: Arua, Uganda
About AFENET:
The African Field Epidemiology Network
(AFENET) is a not for profit, networking alliance and service organization that
brings together field epidemiology training programs (FETPs) across Africa
working side by side with Ministries of Health, regional and international
partners. AFENET works to strengthen epidemiological and disease surveillance
capabilities of African countries that are critical to meeting the requirements
of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy, and the
International Health Regulations (I HR). 
Established in 2005, AFENET has supported
more than 20 African countries across sub-Saharan Africa advance their
capabilities in early detection and response to infectious and non- infectious
diseases.
Background:
AFENET in collaboration with United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Uganda National
Expanded Programme on Immunization (UNEPI) plan to conduct operational research
to evaluate public health interventions to increase immunization rates among
children under one year in order to reduce the burden of morbidity and
mortality related to measles, polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to its 2011 Demographic and Health Survey, only 40% of 12-23 month
olds in Uganda had received all recommended vaccinations by 12 months of age.
In 2013, Uganda ranked twelfth in the world in total number of children having
not received their first dose of measles vaccination, resulting in ongoing measles
outbreaks. In recent years immunization coverage has fallen in the face of a
growing population and a stagnating national health spending.
Job
Summary:
 The Immunization Study Coordinator will evaluate
a scalable short message service (SMS) system to remind caregivers of their
children’s upcoming vaccination visits. He / she will be responsible for
providing strong technical leadership in immunization system quantitative and
qualitative research.
Key
Duties and Responsibilities: 
·        
Oversee
the local (Arua-based) field operation, staffing, and implementation of the
research protocol, including both quantitative and qualitative components.
·        
Work
closely with AFENET, UNEPI, and CDC to ensure they participate in the
modification of protocol and data collection tools, and in the development of
additional immunizations protocols, as necessary.
·        
Oversee
protocol modifications through the Ethics Review clearance process.
·        
Actively
participate in the field testing of SMS system and tools (questionnaires, data
extraction forms, focus group discussion guides).
·        
Participate
in the development of electronic data entry forms and databases, as necessary.
·        
Plan
and conduct training of study personnel.
·        
Ensure
study personnel are equipped with the knowledge, skills, capacity, and support
required to operationalize the study protocol.
·        
Take
part in data collection.
·        
Manage
quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (focus group discussions) data
collection and data entry and ensure data collectors follow research protocol
procedures.
·        
Ensure
data quality of data collection and entry through daily supervision and regular
cleaning of data.
·        
Carry
out daily supervisory visits to study sites.
·        
Participate
in data analysis.
·        
Actively
communicate regularly with AFENET and CDC personnel as necessary to clarify
issues and provide updates.
·        
Provide
frequent reports to CDC-GID Principal Investigator
Qualifications,
Skills and Experience: 
·        
The
incumbent should preferably hold an MBChB, Nursing, or Public Health degree.
Possession of a Postgraduate degree at Master’s or Doctoral level in public
health is a pre-requisite. Post-graduate training or work experience in
quantitative and qualitative research will be an added advantage.
·        
A
minimum of two years’ experience in strengthening health systems in developing
countries particularly in a public health setting.
·        
Extensive
technical experience in immunizations is desired.
·        
Proven
track record in delivering on program objectives (and documentation) is
required.
·        
The
applicant must have excellent leadership skills, with strong interpersonal and
communication abilities to manage a diverse team.
·        
The
applicant must have strong technical knowledge and work experience in public
health, epidemiology, routine immunization, research design, data collection
and management, and data analysis. In addition, the applicant must have
experience and knowledge of public health systems, adult mentoring,
supervision, and leadership. Ability to manage resources effectively to achieve
program objectives is required for the position.
·        
Computer
literacy skills i.e. proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets, as well
as statistical analysis software (such as SAS, STATA and SPSS).
·        
Fluency
in Lugbara language will be an added advantage.
How
to Apply: 
All suitably qualified and interested
candidates should send an updated resume (CV), application letter, and relevant
documentation to: The Administration & Human Resource Office, African Field
Epidemiology Network (AFENET) via Email to: sec@afenet.net
NB: Only successful candidates
shall be contacted for an interview.
Deadline:
15th May, 2015
For More Ugandan Jobs, Please Visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com
or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Related Jobs