Job Vacancy at Partners In Health (PIH) – Community Health Officer (CHO) Pediatrics

Partners In Health (PIH) is an international health organization relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. PIH partners with local governments to build local capacity and works closely with impoverished communities to deliver high-quality health care, address the root causes of illness, train providers, advance research, and advocate for global policy change. Our delivered services in the field are based in our partnership with the Governments and Ministries of Health and the support to education, training and mentorship to Health care workers and students is one of our pillars for the Health care system strengthening.

PIH currently has implementation programs in Haiti, Rwanda, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Mexico, Russia, Sierra Leone and Navajo Nation. Through our partnership with Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, we support a wide range of programs in dozens of other countries around the world.

Our Work In Sierra Leone:

Partners In Health (PIH) began supporting the government of Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola epidemic in October 2014. Recognizing the large need for continued investments in the health system after Ebola, PIH is committed to long-term health system strengthening in support of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS), guided by the same principles as our emergency response and our work around the world: public sector accompaniment, integrated and comprehensive services, social justice, nimbleness and flexibility, partnership, community ownership, and evidence-based interventions. In the aftermath of the epidemic, PIH is committed to supporting the delivery of comprehensive health services in Sierra Leone, from the community level to the health centre and to referral hospitals.

Position Overview

A Community Health Officer (CHO) generally applies his/her medical knowledge and skills to the diagnosis, prevention and management of patients that flows into the Wellbody Clinic or Koidu Government Hospital and any of the Wellbody Alliance/Partners in Health affiliated health facility. He/she does this thoroughly following the principles of inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation where ever applicable to find out the actual cause of disease, and also utilizing the appropriate laboratory work. He/she should consult the medical officers for discussion on patient’s care plan in some critical cases, respecting patient’s privacy and confidentiality as much as possible.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responding to medical/health problems presented by patients including proper history taking, investigations, diagnosis, treatment and referral as appropriate.

Maintaining confidentiality and impartiality.

Promoting continuous medical education and provide mentorship to other junior clinical staff.

Admitting patients requiring special care followed by investigations and treatment with coverage of the wards based on the roster.

Carrying out specific procedures as lumbar puncture, paracentesis, and thoracentesis when necessary under the supervision of the Internal Medicine Consultant.

Give lectures and participate in clinical education sessions about specific topics related to the medical pathology of patients.

Ensure and maintain the medical database in collaboration with the MEQ team.

Covering the NCD clinic and the TB/HIV clinic if it is required.

Liaising with other medical and non-medical staff in the hospital to ensure quality treatment is giving to the patients, and also promotes health education.

Ensures that all emergency cases are prioritized and seen appropriately regardless of the time of the day.

Be willing to work long and unpredictable hours dictated by the needs of the patients.

Perform other duties related to the role, department or project as may be required by the Medical Director or Clinician In Charge.

Safe Guarding

PIH is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment. PIH is committed to safeguarding staff, children and communities with whom we work, therefore any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of applicable background checks, including a criminal records checks.

Qualifications

Diploma in community Health Medicine with 2-3 years’ work experience in a Clinical setting.

Ability to work in a team

Ability to demonstrate clinical practices and ethics in line with the Medical and Dental Council of Sierra Leone

Proven ability to exercise good judgement, demonstrate political astuteness, and tact.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internally and externally.

This is a location based recruitment, no accommodation or relocation allowance is available for this assignment.

Must not hold a PIN code or receive salary from consolidated funds.

Ability to live full-time in Kono required.

A valid national identification card/Passport/Voters Identification card

Method of application

Application with detailed curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages) including names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers of two (2) referees, photocopies of all certificates and attestations should be addressed to the Human Resources Department and send by email to: [email protected]
not later 5:00pm on Friday 29th October, 2021.

ONLY FEMALE APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED

PIH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate applicants on the basis of sex, religion, tribe or region. Female applicants are encouraged to apply and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

DUE TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE DO NOT ACCEPT HARD COPY APPLICATIONS

Disclaimer: Careerical eConsult posts job listings for the convenience of job seekers. We do not endorse or recommend employers, and a posting does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Careerical eConsult explicitly makes no representations or guarantees about positions listed on our website. Careerical eConsult is not responsible for safety, wages, working conditions, or other aspects of employment.  It is the responsibility of applicants to research the integrity of the organizations to which they are applying. We advise you to use caution and common sense when applying for any position with an organization or private party.