MSF BELGIUM VACANCY:  

MIDWIFE  

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation. MSF is therefore guided by the principles of neutrality and impartiality.  These principles must apply to all MSF staff. 

Job Details 

Main Purpose 

Provide obstetrical care to pregnant women and their babies, doing follow up before, during and after delivery, according to MSF obstetrical and reproductive health protocols, universal hygienic and newborn caring standards in order to ensure their health conditions and avoid post-delivery complications.

Main Responsibilities 

• Ensuring the implementation and continuity of antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, obstetrical care (CEmONC and BEmONC), neonatal and comprehensive abortion care, management of victims of sexual violence and reproductive tract infections care in accordance with MSF Reproductive Core Package of Activities and reinforce the implementation of standardised protocols.
• Organizing and carrying out care and treatments according to medical prescriptions, including blood transfusion and assisting during consultations, daily rounds and other medical procedures in close collaboration with the CHO, OB/GYN.
• Participating in health education of the patient (and family) when necessary.
• Providing excellent support for mothers and neonates to breastfeed successfully.
• Ensuring save Kangaroo Mother Care is provided for pre-term and low birthweight infants.
• Providing care to survivors of sexual violence in collaboration with the medical doctor and /or nurse or CHO
• Ensuring PMTCT protocol is followed in ANC/delivery and PNC
• Ensuring hygiene and sterilization criteria (including universal precautions) are met according to MSF specifications.
• Performing cleaning and minor maintenance for biomedical equipment used. Following the user manual and protocols and alert supervisor in case of malfunctioning.
• Guaranteeing a regular and ongoing supply of drugs and equipment required for maternity activities (including monitoring/consumption control/ordering of orders.
• Properly following up all neonates from delivery until discharge, informing mothers and relatives about importance of breast feeding, vaccination and possible complications resulting from harmful traditional practices.
• Ensuring patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality is respected.
• Supervising that administrative procedures of admissions and hospitalizations comply with MSF protocols, as well as verify patients are properly informed and receive the documents required (birth certificate, vaccination card, etc
• Participating in the organisation of the ward in collaboration with other midwifes and the maternity ward supervisor. Ensure handover of relevant information to the next shift team (specially identifying risk cases)
• Guaranteeing proper patient documentation and data reporting.

Context Specific Responsibilities 

• According to the employee’s experience and needs of the service, the employee will work in the MSF Hangha CEmONC maternity; labour and delivery room, antenatal, postnatal ward; paediatric ITFC  and/or will be sent to the MSF supported BEmONC facility or will rotate between the different places.

• Aligned with the aim of capacity building of the hospital and to encourage each staff member to grow their professional skills, we are promoting each unit to put effective delegation system in place. The effectiveness of this system will rely on the flexibility and motivation of each staff member to carry on extra responsibilities (e.g.: pharmacy stock management, IPC focal point, team leader per shift) identified by the Midwife Activity Manager or the Midwive Supervisor. This will contribute the unit to keep functionning independently in the absence of the supervisors and will impact positively the professional development of the staff. No compensation/privilege should be offered to establish such system.

• Considering the nature of the identified midwifery responsibilities as well as the set-up of the hospital and activities (several buildings within the same unit, high patient flow, night shift, internal transfer of staff if operationnal need, support in referrals, …) ; a subsequent level of flexibility and mobility will be expected for each staff occupying this position.

• To estalish a safe work environment and adequate team interaction where the voice of everyone can be heard, regular ward meetings are organized (at least on monthly basis) with date, time and venue communicated in prior by the supervisors. A mandatory presence as well as an active participation in these meetings and in the follow up of the actions points will be expected from each staff occupying this position.

• As Kenema is an endemic area for Lassa fever, all staff is expected to handle lassa suspect patients respecting enhanced transmission based precautions. Therefore, a strong and proactive committment will be  expected in all trainings and surveillance activities related to Lassa.

Requirements 

Education (essential): Essential midwifery Diploma certificate, desired Bachelor in Midwifery Experience:  Desired two years of relevant working experience as midwife. 

Language: English, Mende, Krio 

Competencies • Results • Teamwork

• Flexibility
• Commitment
• Service

Application Details 

Applicants should submit: Application letter, CV, copy of certificates/diplomas, copy of labor card, copy of license

released by the Sierra Leone Nursing and Midwife Board, copy of work certificates from previous employment – no original documents to be submitted 

Applications can be submitted to: MSF Kenema Base (Tissor), MSF Kenema Hospital (Hangha), & MSF Office in Freetown.

Applications can be submitted via email: msfocb-kenema-hrtl@brussels.msf.org

Application deadline: 10 July 2023 at 5 PM– no late applications will be accepted

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further recruitment process.

Please note that MSF does not reimburse transportation cost if applicants are asked for a test or interview.

Please indicate “Midwife” and NAME on the envelope/subject. 

MSF does not charge fees for receiving any applications or participating in any recruitment process.