Surveillance Officer at ICAP Columbia University

Position Summary:

• The Surveillance Officer will implement the day-to-day clinical and oversee laboratory activities of a CDC-funded disease surveillance project at government health facilities. The position will be based at Garissa at the L5 County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Major Accountabilities:

• The disease Surveillance Officer will oversee the project's implementation at the health facility level. This will involve screening and recruiting participants, conducting clinical assessments as well as data abstraction and oversight of laboratory activities and data entry.
• The Surveillance Officer will report to the Surveillance Coordinator.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Screen participants and identify those that meet surveillance case definitions as per protocol.
• Identify, Consent and enroll eligible participants into the surveillance protocol.
• Verify participants are eligible for specimen collection and administer enrollment questionnaire to consenting participants.
• Abstract clinical information from hospital patient records
• Complete manual registers, update the electronic database and safely store participant’s data and equipment as per the surveillance protocol.
• Manage site supplies and equipment at the site alongside the laboratory technologist.
• Provide weekly updates of site operations to the surveillance coordinator.
• Create and maintain a good rapport with other staff at the health facility and patients to ensure the success of the disease surveillance activity.
• Serve as ICAP’s representative of the surveillance team at the hospital level.

Education:

• A diploma in clinical medicine and be a registered clinical officer.
• Experience, Skills, and Minimum Qualifications:
• At least 3 years of experience working at or with public health facilities in Kenya.
• Proficiency in Somali, English and Kiswahili languages
• Previous public health surveillance or research experience would be an added advantage.
• Ability to manage research at facility-level.