The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Somalia since 2006, providing essential services to conflict and disaster affected communities. The IRC has been operational in Central Somalia (Mudug and Galgadud regions) and Mogadishu implementing interventions in the areas of livelihood, WASH, Governance and peacebuilding, GBV, Nutrition, education and health reaching out to more than 200,000 conflict and drought affected people.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Conduct static vaccination sessions in the primary health care facility as scheduled and holding outreach activities in the community.
• Administer vaccines correctly in accordance with guidelines, while maintaining strict aseptic techniques.
• Report and record measles cases and conduct immunization, mopping up and/or any other supplemental immunization activities/campaigns.
• Liaise closely with health workers within the facility, health promoters, CHWs and other staff in order to avoid missed opportunities (including screening of cards) for immunization of children to be followed up through list and defaulter tracing. Also coordinates for proper birth recording/reporting and growth monitoring activities in the facilities with the teams.
• Maintains accurate records/charts of monitoring coverage of the patients in the clinic and target population.
• Maintains accurate EPI records including daily and permanent registers, and additional records missed cases and defaulters (prepare and update lists on a monthly basis).
• Provides counseling to the care givers on the preventative and curative health aspects of the vaccines, vaccination schedules, when to return for the other shot of vaccine etc.
• Receives vaccines from the field office/UNICEF Depot and ensures that the cold chain is correctly maintained to the point of actual immunization in accordance to standardized guidelines.
• Prepares monthly statistical report, vaccine consumption/wastage rates and submits in timely manner.
• Ensures that used syringes, needles and all vaccinations vials/ampoules are stored and disposed off per protocols.
• Participates in meeting with community representatives, volunteers and to discuss EPI activities such as defaulters, EPI campaigns etc.
• Co-ordinate with health promoters on regular basis for defaulter tracing and participate in health education session.
• Coordinate with the nutrition wing for the treatment and immunization of the identified malnourished children and their follow up.

Required Qualifications:

• Secondary school certificate and certificate for participation in EPI course from recognized institution.
• Minimum of two years of relevant experience, preferably in a health program set up.
• Willing to travel and live in difficult and remote areas

Personal Quality

• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity.
• Knowledge of local Somali language.
• Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organization, in particular working in primary health care programs and conducting nursing.
• Strong counseling skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Competent to work under stress as the situation may dictate.
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic background.
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity.
• Knowledge of local Somali language.
• Previous experience within a humanitarian aid organization, in particular working in primary health care programs and conducting nursing.
• Strong counseling skills.
• Good organizational skills.
• Competent to work under stress as the situation may dictate. Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic background.