Program Officer (Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention) at Amref Kenya

POSITION SUMMARY

We seek a dynamic, experienced, and highly organized individual to work with the Ministry of Health in Kenya to provide technical expertise and support in the design, planning, implementation, and evaluation of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention (MMDP) interventions.

The job holder will be fully seconded to the Vector Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases Unit within the Ministry of Health. During the program's design, planning, implementation, and evaluation phases, he/ she will work closely and collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and international partners. The position will be based in Nairobi, with regular travels to the field to capacity-build sub-national level healthcare workers and provide technical support to county and national governments.

This role requires a solid understanding of managing patients with clinical symptoms associated with Lymphatic Filariasis and assessing

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management

• Ensure the MMDP program is designed and implemented in line with national and international guidelines
• Represent the program at the County level with government and stakeholders, including TWGs, TAGs, Conferences
• Develop detailed work plans, budgets, and timelines to ensure the effective execution of MMDP activities
• Foster collaboration and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders for effective evidence-based program delivery in accordance with national and international guidelines
• Work with various NTD stakeholders to coordinate the integration of NTD MMDP services within community outreaches

Technical Expertise

• Support in developing Morbidity Management and Disability Prevention training material, with a specific focus on filarial lymphoedema management
• Support in the development of nursing care packages for patients who have undergone hydrocelectomy
• Assess, formulate, plan, and implement evidence-based nursing care for hydrocele and lymphoedema patients
• Provide technical guidance to field teams and partners working on filarial MMDP interventions o Stay up-to-date with the latest research, best practices, and innovations on MMDP interventions

Advocacy & Communication

• Advocate for increased attention, funding, and political commitment to MMDP interventions at national and county levels
• Develop and disseminate educational materials and communication campaigns to raise awareness on filarial MMDP and its impact of public health

Monitoring Evaluation, Research Learning

•  Support all MMDP M&E initiatives for the LF program, including routinely working with sub-national healthcare workers to monitor the progress of lymphoedema patients and hydrocelectomy/ herniorrhaphy patient outcomes
• Support VBNTDU to perform supportive supervision field visits to ensure the validation and verification of the MMDP data collected for accuracy in reporting & database updating
• Support operational research endeavours, documentation, and evidence to guide innovative MMDP approaches
•  Monitor and evaluate the progress of MMDP interventions, analyze data, and propose adaptive measures to improve program efficiency and effectiveness
• Conducting periodic patient audits to improve client /patient care o Monitor program indicators and outcomes to assess the impact of MMDP interventions and identify gaps/ areas for improvement

Capacity Building

• Continuously support capacity-building sessions for sub-national healthcare workers on LF MMDP
• Collaborate with national and county health authorities to enhance their capacities in NTD MMDP interventions not limited to surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention
• Work with various stakeholders to develop and embed NTD MMDP modules within the CHV training curriculum
• Conduct training sessions and workshops for healthcare professionals, community health workers, and other stakeholders to enhance their knowledge and skills in NTD MMDP interventions

Reporting & Documentation

•  Preparing and submitting timely and accurate reports on MMDP activities
• Support quarterly donor reporting requirements of the LF Program o Work with Amref’s communication team to document successful, impactful stories for broader dissemination

Perform any other duties as assigned from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

•  Bachelor of Science in Nursing from a recognized institution; Master’s degree in Public Health or any health-related course an added advantage
• Registration certificate and valid practicing license from the Nursing Council of Kenya
• Familiarity with WHO guidelines and strategies for LF MMDP
• At least three years’ experience in providing nursing care with an added advantage of working within the NTD sector
• Shown merit and ability as reflected in work performance and results
• Strong program management skills; strategic about achieving set objectives
• Agile and able to simultaneously manage and ensure quality execution of multiple tasks
• Detail-oriented, excellent in oral and written communication, with strong analytical skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills

Competences

Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team o Highly adaptable to the ever evolving NTD landscape o Honesty and high on integrity