World Health Organization (WHO) Currently Recruiting In Zambia – May 2017
Scientist – Laboratory
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
The overall goal of the WHO laboratory programme is to strengthen the performance of national laboratories that support immunization initiatives including essential interventions for vaccine preventable diseases. The key objectives of the Programme are:–> Achieve and sustain certification standard surveillance as a strategy to eradicate poliomyelitis and reduce morbidity and mortality caused by vaccine preventable diseases–> Strengthen integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) by providing laboratory confirmation of disease outbreaks and genotyping results –> Provide technical support to the Ministry of Health and other relevant authorities to establish/maintain monitoring systems for EPI and IDSR activities as well as for all vaccine-preventable diseases.–> Provide data, feedback results and reports to the Zambia MoH at national, provincial and district level as well as WHO country and AFRO office, and cooperating partners.
Description Of Duties
The incumbent will perform the following duties:– Develop laboratory backed surveillance including 😮 Development of Laboratory workplanso Virus isolation and identification using recommended WHO guidelines and procedureso Tissue culture maintenance and propagationo Specimen processing and handling- Liaise with other partners in support of AFP laboratory backed surveillance- Ensure WHO guidelines and standards operating procedures are strictly adhered to as recommended by WHO- Provide technical support to the other countries of the region in Polio eradication and other activities when need arise- Implementation of the Real Time PCR for Intratypic Differentiation (ITD) for polio molecular epidemiology.- improved quality assurance through accreditation & proficiency testing programmes implementation of validated, standard laboratory procedures- provision of training for laboratory personnel- linking of laboratory data and activities to surveillance for diseases of public health importance- Perform data management, for Polio, Measles, Influenza and Rotavirus surveillance.Secondary Activities:o Measles, Rubella, Rota, Influenza, Yellow fever and Human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnostic procedures for virus isolation and identification according to WHO guidelineso Vaccine quality control activities including vaccine sampling and potency testing when indicatedo Documentation and report writing as a way of feedback to relevant partnerso Data harmonization meetings with MoH and partnerso Any other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications
Essential: Bachelors Degree in Biomedical Sciences / Biology & Chemistry or other related field
Essential: A minimum of five years experience in Bacteriology and Virology Laboratory work
Desirable: Experience in laboratory activities for vaccine preventable diseases
Skills
WHO Competencies
Moving forward in a changing environment
Teamwork
Producing results
Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable
REMUNERATION
Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at ZMW 354,748 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.
Additional Information
- This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.
- For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.
- WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
- WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- This is a National Professional Officer position. Therefore, only applications from nationals of the country where the duty station is located will be accepted. Applicants who are not nationals of this country will not be considered.