Dhusamareeb, Somalia

The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) will be directly supervised by the Field Manager but will technically report to the Health Manager. He/she will be directly responsible for the implementation of health and nutrition projects in the Galgaduud region that are centered on the provision of integrated health and nutrition activities. The senior medical officer will perform a variety of duties on a daily basis to ensure that program activities are delivered to beneficiaries, The SMO will therefore collaborate closely with IRC’s local partner to ensure the provision of high-quality health services at supported facilities and activities. and will provide capacity building for health staff to promotes best practice in the health programs.

• •  Responsible of adequate and effective implementation of the health and nutrition projects running in the region which are focusing on provision of integrated health and nutrition activities with core package of essential lifesaving preventive and curative services, and emergency programs to the vulnerable populations, and ensuring the implementation strategies are compatible with overall program goals and objectives
  •  Ensure that all IRC supported H&N activities in Galgadud regions are smoothly running, follow up closely programs implementation status, services and quality initiatives, attend program review meetings, to assess progress and to determine required action to achieve results
  •  Participate in the assessments of status of health and nutrition sector in target areas
  •  Take part in health and nutrition projects designing and proposals, prepare and compile monthly activities reports and projects donor reports.
  •  In collaboration with the Field Coordinator and Health Manager, the SMO will help identify health program opportunities by assisting the health staff to carry out assessments to better inform healthcare service delivery.
  •  Support local partners with data collection, compilation, analysis and preparation of reports.
  •  Review clinical activities at the hospital on a continuous basis and ensure provision of services is in line with overall goals and objectives of the program.
  •  Ensure that clinical activities in the Outpatient department and ambulance services are implemented and running smoothly, including pharmacy and laboratory services. Will help with providing hands-on services in the hospital including conducting of outpatient consultations and surgeries where deemed appropriate.
  •  Participate actively in hospital assessments including verification of different reports in different departments of the hospital.
  •  Play a key supportive role during technical health facility supervision visits by senior management, donors and third-party monitoring teams.
  •  Inspect facilities and recommend building or equipment modifications to the Field Coordinator and Health Manager to ensure that activities are being implemented appropriately and as per the required hygiene and safety standards
  •  Coordinate all referrals of IDP and host community patients at the facility level to identified secondary and tertiary facilities as per MoH/WHO referral guidelines.
  •  Coordinate ambulance activities in the community and ensure all referred cases receive appropriate care
  •  Work closely with the with IRC health and nutrition staff to provide technical support to outreach teams in Galgaduud region to ensure reporting is of high quality

•  Organize a monthly meeting with the health staff to discuss project development, the status of activity implementation, including accomplishments and challenges, the health needs of the community, and service utilizations.

Monitoring, supervision, and reporting

•  Provide regular supervision and technical support to health facility staff and outreach teams including participation in monitoring and impact analysis of the running projects.
•  Ensure proper data collection tools are in place at the health facilities and shared out with relevant staff. Closely monitor and evaluate staff understanding of use of these tools and recommend trainings/capacity building mechanisms to improve the quality of data.
•  Ensure timely collection of weekly and monthly data from the facilities, analyze and use the information to plan, monitor and manage the project, with reports on changes in trends provided to the Health Manager on a weekly (disease surveillance data) and monthly (other epidemiological data) basis
•  Drug management: ensure that the health facilities has up to date drug management tools which are in use in all service departments, proper recording of drug distribution at all levels including ensuring that regular inventories are conducted and ensure proper storage according to recommended standards. Monitor rational use of drugs periodically in comparison with morbidities
•  Monitor closely the morbidity and mortality trends together with all the other health indicators to ensure that prompt actions are taken
•  Prepare activity reports on a regular basis to inform the Field Coordinator and Health Manager of the status of implementation of program activities. Assist in drafting donor sector reports periodically as required by the Field Coordinator and Health Manager.
•  Attend meetings concerning overall health program issues as requested by the Field Coordinator or Health Manager
•  Keep the Field Coordinator and Health Manager informed of all developments and issues through weekly situation reports.

HR/Staff Management

•  In collaboration with the Field Coordinator and Health Manager, participate in recruitment, induction and training of medical personnel as per the activities highlighted the program documents
•  Orient new field staff members on personal health and safety issues as well as their specific assigned responsibilities Coordinate with local partners to develop work schedules and assignments for staff and constantly review this to ensure that objectives are met, and implementation of activities is carried out accordingly
•  Ensure weekly staff meetings are conducted in collaboration with local partners, Health Manager and Hospital Director and address issues raised as well as provide feedback on the implementation of activities and other issues that will enable smooth running of activities
•  Establish and follow up on implementation of Continuous Medical Education sessions at the health facility in collaboration with unit in – charges
•  Organize monthly meetings with the hospital management

Finance and grant management

•  Prepare spending, work plans and procurement plans for the program based on the available budgets. Attend and participate in monthly budget review meetings, with records of updated expenditure and spending plans.
•  Ensure adherence to the health program budget by reviewing monthly expenditure.
•  Provide recommendations and interventions to correct any identified deviations that impact on budget adherence.
•  Prepare monthly specific work plans that reflect overall Health Program work plans as per the different grants and submit these to the Field Coordinator and Health Manager and provide brief reports on status of implementation of activities.
•  Participate in monthly grants meetings and provide adequate and timely feedback on under-expenditures or over-expenditures on appropriate budget lines and suggest remedial measures.

Supply chain

•  Work with the supply chain team to develop accurate and timely quarterly health program procurement plans and orders.
•  Monitor utilization of IRC issued supplies; monitor and track IRC sector assets where applicable.
•  Review of all community health and facilities activities program purchase requisitions

Communication and Coordination

•  Develop and foster relationships with the community, stakeholders, and implementing partners.
•  Develop and maintain appropriate, regular, transparent, and supportive communication structures with the supported health facility teams, local partners, line Manager, Ministry of health, and other relevant stakeholders (such as beneficiaries, community leaders, local and national government officials, UN agencies, and other NGOs) in order to ensure good cooperation and partnerships.
•  Liaise with concerned government authorities and ensure the program strategies, objectives and activities are understood and agreed, and appropriate communication channel is in place
•  As requested by the Field Coordinator or Health Manager, liaise and coordinate with the MoH and the WHO led Health Cluster in Galgaduud, UNICEF focal points, IRC’s local partner and other external partners to facilitate information sharing to enable smooth running of health projects at the region

As required, participate in coordination meetings, IRC internal trainings, and other working groups or meetings, representing IRC and providing project and facility staff with feedback on pertinent issues