Public Health Officer at Kenya Red Cross Society

PURPOSE:

The Public health officer will be responsible for steering the community health program through existing community health units. Observe and monitor health status of the refugee populations to recognize and solve public health needs. Provide leadership and mentorship role to community health workers and notify, educate and empower refugee populations regarding health problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement community health strategy approach and ensure creation of health demand at the community.
•  Carry out disease surveillance and response activities at the hospital and community level.
• Conduct public health sanitary and hygiene inspections at the hospital and community and develop reports for timely response.
• Capacity build, mentor and supervise community health workforce.
• Develop, maintain and monitor infection prevention measures and guidelines for the hospital.
• Conduct and supervise weekly and monthly community engagement activities like community dialogue and action days.
• Take a lead role in the event of disease outbreaks and ensure adherence to public health prevention measures.
• Supervise and conduct mass immunization campaigns for vaccine preventable diseases.
• Plan, supervise and conduct community health outreaches and create awareness on emerging public health issues at the community level.
• Represent the society in attending public health coordination meetings, both internal and interagency meetings.
• Contribute to effective program reporting.
• Conduct any other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor.

Programme Support

• Coordinate and plan for program activities within a community unit
• Work with community health committee members and ensure active participation of the community in preventive activities
• Contribute to program reporting
• In liaison with community health coordinator supervise mass immunization campaigns, social mobilization and sensitization exercises in response to outbreaks
• Carry out health assessments and provide feedback
• Lead weekly meeting with the CHWs within the respective community unit

Leadership

• Contribute to the maintenance of a high quality and motivated team of Community Health
• Workers through on the job trainings, coaching, mentoring, performance management and continuous feedback.
• Attend various internal coordination meetings and community forums on behalf of the department, gather and share information, develop and nurture a working relationship with the refugee community and other implementing agencies.

Minimum Qualifications 

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health or Environmental Health.
• Experience in working in a refuge set up or complex emergency situations.
• Experience in implementing the Community Health Strategy approach will be an added advantage.

Key Competencies 

• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills.
• Have insight into various public health issues
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and utilization of the internet.
• Demonstrate ability of proposal/budget making and grant management.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution and ability to deliver the Society’s strategic objectives.
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations.