National Professional Officer

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The Health Systems Strengthening team in WHO will support the country in its efforts towards achieving Universal Health Coverage through implementation of programmes in the National Healthcare Quality Strategy. Major activities include facilitating the development of strategies; for effective quality service delivery approaches; ensuring availability of quality medicines, vaccines and other medical products; ensuring quality laboratory services and ensuring adequate regulatory frameworks in the health sector. The health system team will also be instrumental in supporting coordination mechanisms of the health sector to assure higher value for money.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Support the Government of in its initiatives to;

1.            Support the health sector (MoH) to create a sustainable leadership and governance for quality planning, quality control and quality improvement at all levels of the health care system and strengthen coordination among all health sector agencies as well as private sector on QoC issues.

2.            Develop and implement a uniform national policy and guidelines on data reporting and data use by health workers and health sector agencies for quality of care and to encourage and enable the generation and dissemination of evidence-based research results, tools and best practices on quality of care.

3.            Improve patient safety, client satisfaction and participation of patients and the community in quality governance structures, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation of QoC mechanisms all levels.

4.            Improve the capacity of relevant health workers through training in order for them to better manage identified priority health interventions for quality of care improvement.

5.            Improve supportive supervision and monitoring across all MOH directories, sector agencies and all service delivery sites in the public, private sub-sectors and teaching hospitals e.g. through sector-wide reviews.

6.            Provide adequate support to the country to frame, implement, and monitor the impact of national medicines policies, including monitoring of and advice on the impact of relevant trade agreements and globalization on access to medicines

7.            Provide guidance on financing the supply and increasing the affordability of essential medicines in both the public and private sectors

8.            Promote Instruments for effective medicine regulation and quality assurance systems in order to strengthen national medicine regulatory authorities; strengthen and promote laboratory quality assurance systems

9.            Raise awareness and provide guidance on cost-effective and rational use of medicines with a view to improving medicines use by health professionals and consumers.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education (Qualifications):

Essential: University degree (Bachelors level degree) in health sciences or health-related field such as public health, Pharmacy, health policy, planning and management from a recognized university.

Desirable: Post-graduate training in public health at MPH level; Post Graduate training in quality management in health would be an added advantage

Experience:

Essential: At least five years' relevant work experience in the field of equitable, health people-centred health services planning and management and/or experience working with the global health initiatives and other partner agencies. Experience in the development and implementation of service quality standards at the national and international levels.

Desirable: Experience in the implementation of integrated health systems and/or global health initiatives.

Skills

• Proven expertise in health service delivery systems and in running quality of care programmes as part of national health systems policies and strategies.
• Knowledge of equitable, people-centred Integrated Service Delivery including primary health care, health systems in resource-limited environments and health systems strengthening initiatives;
• Knowledge of national health policies, strategies and plans, International Health Partnership and other health sector coordination mechanisms and partnerships;
• Programme development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with demonstrated ability to write technical reports, documents and guidelines in a clear and concise manner.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft applications.

WHO Competencies

1) Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

2) Communicating in a credible and effective way

3) Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

4) Creating an empowering and motivating environment

5) Promoting WHO's position in health leadership

6) Fostering integration and teamwork

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English

Desirable: Working knowledge of French or other UN language

      REMUNERATION

Remuneration comprises an annual base salary starting at 145,847Shillings (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable) and 30 days of annual leave.