Medical Doctor at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

Main Purpose

As a Medical Doctor with MSF in Dagahaley, you will play a key role in delivering life-saving, patient-centred healthcare to refugees and host communities in one of Kenya's largest humanitarian operations.

Working within a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, you will provide evidence-based medical care across emergency, outpatient and inpatient services, while contributing to the continuous development of colleagues, strengthening clinical practice and improving the quality of care through collaboration, teaching and quality improvement initiatives.

Accountabilities

Clinical Care

• Provide outpatient and inpatient consultations according to MSF protocols and current medical standards.
• Diagnose, treat and monitor patients requiring emergency, acute and ongoing medical care.
• Conduct daily ward rounds, review treatment plans and decide on discharge, admission or referral in collaboration with other clinicians.
• Communicate diagnoses, treatment plans and follow-up clearly to patients and their families.

Emergency and Specialized Care

• Work on a rotational basis across departments including Emergency Room, Outpatient Department, Adult Ward, Paediatrics, Maternity, Neonatal Unit, Intensive Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC), ICU and outbreak response units.
• Manage obstetric and neonatal emergencies in collaboration with the Midwife Activity Manager and Midwife Supervisor.
• Perform emergency procedures within your scope of practice, including vacuum deliveries, Caesarean sections (where qualified), trauma stabilization and minor surgical procedures.
• Identify patients requiring referral and coordinate referral according to MSF procedures.

Quality of Care

• Ensure MSF clinical guidelines, infection prevention and control standards and universal precautions are consistently followed.
• Participate actively in mortality reviews, near-miss audits, clinical case discussions, rational prescription audits and other quality improvement activities.
• Monitor the rational use of medicines and medical equipment.
• Report medical errors, suspected outbreaks and other significant clinical events promptly.

Maternal, Child Health and Public Health

• Provide comprehensive care for pregnant women, newborns and children, including ANC, PNC and high-risk pregnancies.
• Support follow-up of high-risk pregnancies together with Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).
• Diagnose and manage infectious diseases and immediately notify supervisors of suspected outbreaks such as cholera, measles or polio.
• Examine and treat survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) while ensuring confidentiality and dignity.

Teamwork and Capacity Building

• Support, coach and mentor clinical, nursing and midwifery staff.
• Participate in Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions and contribute to on-the-job training.
• Work closely with nurses, midwives, laboratory staff, nutrition teams and other departments to provide integrated patient care.
• Participate in on-call duties and emergency responses as required.

Other Responsibilities

• Always maintain professional confidentiality.
• Use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and promote safe clinical practice.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the line manager in support of MSF activities.

Context Specific Accountabilities

• Work on a rotational shift basis across all clinical departments, including the Emergency Room (ER), Outpatient Department (OPD), Inpatient Department (IPD), Adult Ward, Paediatrics, Maternity, Neonatal Unit (NBU), Intensive Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Isolation Ward and outbreak response units (e.g. Cholera Treatment Centre).
• Ensure timely triage, clinical assessment and management of patients according to MSF protocols and clinical priorities.
• Provide comprehensive care for pregnant women, newborns and high-risk pregnancies, including ANC, PNC, maternity and neonatal services.
• Collaborate closely with the Midwife Activity Manager and Midwife Supervisor in the management of obstetric emergencies and reproductive health services.
• Perform procedures within the scope of practice, including vacuum-assisted deliveries, Caesarean sections (where qualified), minor surgical procedures, wound debridement and trauma stabilization prior to referral when indicated.
• Conduct daily ward rounds and routine clinical reviews in Maternity and Neonatal Units to ensure continuity and quality of care.
• Coordinate the High-Risk Pregnancy Clinic together with the Midwife Activity Manager and ensure appropriate follow-up through Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).
• Examine and manage survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) while maintaining strict confidentiality and completing required medico-legal documentation (P3 forms).
• Identify patients requiring referral, coordinate referrals according to MSF Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and discuss referral decisions with the Medical Activity Manager.
• Participate actively in quality improvement initiatives, including Continuing Medical Education (CME), case reviews, mortality reviews, near-miss audits and rational prescription audits.
• Conduct or support regular Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions for medical, nursing and midwifery staff in collaboration with the Medical Activity Manager.
• Promptly notify the line manager of suspected outbreaks or notifiable diseases, including cholera, measles, polio and other epidemic-prone conditions.
• Consistently apply MSF clinical protocols, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) standards and use appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when providing patient care.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the line manager in support of MSF activities.

Requirements

Education

• Medical Doctor degree registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) with a valid practicing licence.
• A postgraduate qualification or diploma in Tropical Medicine is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum two years' experience as a Medical Doctor.
• Experience in emergency medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, public health, infectious diseases, HIV/TB programmes or humanitarian settings is highly desirable.

Languages

• English is essential.
• Knowledge of Somali and/or Swahili is an advantage.

Knowledge & Skills

• Computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook etc.)
• Sound clinical decision-making skills
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team
• Clear communication and patient-centred approach
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced humanitarian environment

Competencies

• People Management and Development
• Commitment to MSF Principles
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation
• Stress Management