Background/IRC Summary: 

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 helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and gain control of their future. 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 IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting nationals, refugees and various institutions in the country notably the government, community based organizations, the civil society and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health, peace building, gender-based violence, economic recovery and agribusiness, and children & youth

IRC has a country office in Kampala, a regional office in Kitgum and Moroto. Given the recent conflict outbreak in South Sudan, IRC re-opened the Yumbe Field site office to support refugees being settled in Bidibidi refugee settlement in Yumbe District and in Arua District; the IRC is one of the first responders to the emergency situation in Imvepi refugee settlement.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the guidance of Health manager, the Medical Officer shall be responsible for ensuring that effective, efficient and quality clinical Services are provided at the respective health facilities where he/ she shall be stationed. He/ She shall be responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical supplies are available for effective service delivery. The medical officer will work in collaboration with other officers in Community Health and Reproductive health to ensure that there is on-going provision of services that are safe for the beneficiaries both at the community level and health facility. He/ she shall also give oversight and guidance to the health workers on proper management of medical conditions according to the Ministry of Health guidelines.

Key Outputs:

•    Quality Clinical service for patients provided. This will include services at OPD, IPD and Maternity units.

•    High risk cases identified, reviewed and referred appropriately.

•    Ward or health unit activities organized and managed.

•    Discipline enforced.

•    Staff performance appraisal done timely.

•   Activity reports submitted timely.

Key Activities

•    Provide comprehensive evaluation and delivery of health services to persons of concern according to ministry of health guidelines and protocols and UNHCR public health strategy.

•    Coordinate integrated service delivery at the health facilities including, but not limited to; mental health, NCD’s, Nutrition, HIV care and RH including coordination of consultancy and outreach visits.

•    Conduct daily ward rounds for IPD patients and attend to all emergencies both medical and surgical while on duty.

•     Ensure adequate health team coverage of the clinics and rationale prescription and use of medicines and medical supplies.

•    Monitor availability of supplies and promptly alert the clinical services and health managers.

•  Coordinate clinical audits, chart reviews and mortality audits as part of continuous learning and improvement of activities.

•    Identify training needs and provide just-in-time training and mentorship for the multi-disciplinary health care teams.

•   Promptly evaluate patients for referral and follow up to ensure services are accessed at the point of referral.

•    Support the implementation of emergency reproductive health services including basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care.

•  Coordinate with district health authorities and other agencies to avoid duplication of services in the settlements and to optimize health outcomes through increased access to life saving interventions.

•  Actively participate in mobilizing and educating the refugee community to adopt health promoting behaviors.

•  Ensure consistent and timely collection, utilization and reporting of community health and facility based health data.

•   Represent the health program and maintain effective and cordial relationship with district health authorities and other district officials, UN agencies, Community leaders and other NGO’s.

• Conduct disease surveillance activities and manage outbreaks.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:   Deputy Health Programme Manager
Position directly supervises:  Clinical Officers, Nurses, Midwives, vaccinators, laboratory staffs

Indirect Reporting: N/A
Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal:

Work with colleagues in Protection and Rule of Law, WPE, finance and administration sectors to foster integrated activity implementation

External: 

Work with District health teams, NGOs, UN agencies, and other implementing partners in the settlement

Qualifications

Education:

 Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery

• Must be registered with Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioner’s council
• Must possess a valid practicing license
• At least two years’ experience in clinical work in humanitarian setting.
• Good track record of clinical management of common ailments.
• Knowledge of grants management.
• Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
  •  Working contacts within health sector, including district health care authorities and other NGO’s.
  •   Fluency in English and any other relevant local language.
  •  Strong analytical orientation and sound judgment
  •   Pro-activeness, resourcefulness, punctuality, responsibility.
  •      Excellent administrative/management skills.
  •    Excellent presentation and communication skills.
  •    Solid understanding of the social, economic and political context of a refugee setting.
  •   Dedication to the IRC principles and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural background
  • Proficiency in current office software applications (MS- word, excel, PowerPoint).

   

  Working Environment:  

  Field base work environment, computer shall be provided depending on availability for report writing, etc…

  The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability.  In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.