The World Health Organisation (WHO) is the United Nations’ premier health authority. It provides leadership on global health challenges, determines health research agendas, establishes standards, produces evidence-based policy alternatives, provides technical assistance to governments, and monitors global health trends.

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Job Title: Public Health Specialist (Epidemiology)

Job ID: 2404969
Location: Abuja
Employment Type: Full-time

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Objectives of the Programme

The incumbent will help to strengthen national disease prevention and control capability by working on the creation and execution of national public health programmes and surveillance and response strategies, particularly those for emerging and re-emerging infections. This function is intended to improve early detection, verification, and quick reaction to epidemics and other public health crises of national or international significance.

Description of Duties

The Public Health Specialist (Epidemiology) will:

• Coordinate with technical focus points at regional and headquarters levels, guided by the head of the WHO country office.
• Lead the country office’s epidemiological activities and provide professional recommendations to national public health authorities to inform policy formation.
• Assist appropriate teams in developing core competencies for surveillance, early detection, verification, and fast response to epidemics in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005.
• Access key country-specific health data, such as demographics, disease statistics, and time patterns.
• Analyse datasets to understand the country’s health context and epidemiological state.
• Coordinate internal and external requests for country-specific data.
• Help the government improve national epidemic forecasting and detection mechanisms, such as epidemiology and laboratory surveillance.
• Developed training courses for public health professionals in epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigation.
• Help build and maintain a nationwide system for collecting and analysing public health data.
• Lead the analysis, interpretation, and knowledge-building of surveillance data using WHO and peer-reviewed publications.
• Develop new advocacy activities and project proposals to enhance national responses to public health events.
• Liaise with the government and WHO to collect and disseminate statistics particular to the country.
• Manage WHO Office support for field investigations of public health events.
• Work with Health Emergency teams to advocate WHO’s viewpoint and encourage national health authorities to implement infection prevention and control programmes.
• Conduct risk assessments for uncommon health events as necessary.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned by the WHO Representative.

Education Qualifications

• Requires a Master’s degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Medicine, or allied subjects. Postgraduate training in epidemiology (EPIET) or a comparable programme.
• Desired: Specialised training in public health, focusing on assessing the impact of interventions.

Experiences Required for the Position

• Requirements for this position include at least seven years of relevant work experience, including developing and implementing programmes, policies, and guidelines, as well as monitoring and evaluating diseases and public health issues, with some experience in international and developing countries.
• Responding to public health emergencies and humanitarian crises. Experience with WHO or the UN system is beneficial.

Skills Needed

The following skills are required for this position:

• Skills include competence in creating and executing public health surveillance systems.
• Extensive experience collecting, analysing, and interpreting epidemiological and event-based surveillance data.
• Expertise in data analysis for epidemics/pandemics.
• Understanding the country’s communicable and noncommunicable disease profile.
• Demonstrates strong training development and delivery skills.
• Demonstrates leadership and coordination skills across several disciplines and programmes.
• Provide technological support for timely public health responses.
• Demonstrates collaboration, respect for cultural diversity, communication skills, relationship building, and results-oriented mindset.

Language Skills:

• Required: Proficiency in English.

Salary scheme for the Position

• WHO wages in the Professional category are computed in US dollars. This role offers an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326.
• The post adjustment reflects the monthly cost of living in Abuja, which is presently USD 3873.
• Other perks include 30 days of annual leave, compensation for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

How to apply

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