Midwivies at the Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) - 6 Openings

The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) is an independent humanitarian medical NGO that was created in 2009 by professionals of humanitarian medicine. ALIMA’s mission is to provide medical care in emergency situations or medical catastrophes.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Midwife

Location: Monguno, Borno
Job Level: Level; 5
Contract Duration: 3 months, renewable.
Supervisor: Midwife Supervisor
Line Manager: SRH Manager
Slot: 6 Openings

Main Purpose

• Provide obstetrical care to pregnant women and their babies, doing follow up before, during and after delivery, according to ALIMA obstetrical and reproductive health protocols, universal hygienic and new-born caring standards and under supervision of a specialist doctor, in order to ensure their health conditions and avoid post-delivery complications.

Accountabilities

• Ensure the implementation and continuity of antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, obstetrical care (BEmONC[1] and CEmONC[2]), neonatal and comprehensive abortion care, management of survivors of sexual violence, reproductive tract infections and Fistula care in accordance with ALIMA Reproductive Core Package of Activities and reinforce the implementation of standardised protocols.
• Where PMTCT is implemented, ensure implementation of the PMTCT protocol in the ANC/delivery and PNC consultations (pre counselling, test and post counselling)
• Collaborate with the EXPAT MIDWIFE in the management of Sexual Violence cases
• Assess the feasibility for referral of pregnant women form the TBAs to the OPD/MCH for medical evaluation and/or complicated deliveries.
• Ensure hygiene and sterilization criteria (including universal precautions) are met according to MSF specifications.
• Guarantee a regular and on-going supply of drugs and equipment required for maternity activities (including monitoring/consumption control/ordering of orders).
• Properly follow up all new-born babies from delivery until discharge, informing mothers and relatives about importance of breast feeding, vaccination and possible complications resulting from harmful traditional practices.
• Ensure patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality is respected.
• Supervise or execute the administrative procedures of admissions and hospitalizations compliant with   protocols, as well as verify patients are properly informed and receive the documents required (birth certificate, vaccination card, etc.)
• Ensure proper documentation and registration of relevant information related to delivery and examination findings.
• Participate in the organisation of the ward in collaboration with other midwifes and the maternity ward supervisor. Ensure transfer of relevant information to the next shift team (specially identifying risk cases).
• According to ALIMA protocols in force, conduct normal deliveries independently. Manage obstetric emergencies; identify cases needing referral and send them in time, clean up the new-born, executing and registering first neo-natal medical acts (cutting and cleaning the umbilical cord, vaccination, etc.), detecting possible anomalies/infections/premature/low birth weight of the new-born and reporting them to the doctor and/or, in order to ensure successful interventions. Supervises the use of drugs, facilities and obstetric material, in order to ensure, in accordance with number of patients and prescriptions, a rational use as well as pharmacy stock levels are permanently updated, kept under appropriate conditions and above minimum safety point.

Specificities

General Responsibilities:
In the Maternity Ward and Health Post, the midwife is expected to:

• Work according to ALIMA and local protocols in force.
• Distribute and/or administer medication timely according to the prescriptions in the patients’ file.
• Follow up on vital signs and other observations and carry out care and/or interventions ordered as per Doctors/midwife orders in the patient file.
• Ask for help when the situation is beyond his/her capacity (in workload and/or complexity of the cases) to ensure safe patient care.
• Work harmoniously together with cleaners and translators and facilitate a healthy working environment.
• Work together with PMTCT counselors to facilitate optimal coverage of PMTCT.

Admission Responsibilities:
In the Maternity Ward, the midwife is expected to:

• Welcome patients; take history, vital signs and medical examination - decide whether hospitalization is needed.
• Register and complete the patients’ registration on/in the designated forms/books
• Explain the ward’s functioning.
• Follow up of labor

In the Maternity Ward, the midwife is expected to:

• Admit all women in latent or false labor and follow up at regular intervals.
• Admit all women in active labor and fill the partogram correctly and completely.
• Provide emotional and empowering support during labor and ensure optimal comfort for the patient during labor.
• Inform the supervisor when a labor does not progress normally (e.g. alert line crossed at partograph), or if a complication develops to discuss further management.

Delivery Responsibilities:
In the Maternity Ward, the midwife is expected to:

• Detect prolonged labor or delivery and signs of complications. Notify the head midwife or expat midwife if complications are suspected or as soon as possible after they have occurred to cross check management (e.g. PPH, shoulder dystocia, preterm delivery, neonatal resuscitation, etc., etc.).
• Carry out delivery with active management of the 3rd stage of labor
• Assess tears carefully and decide whether suturing is needed, and in case of doubt, consult head midwife or expat midwife.
• Carry out first care of the new-born; in case of complications, carry out resuscitation of the new-born.
• Accompany patients in need of referrals in the ambulance and ensure a good handover of the patient at the receiving facility. Follow the referral protocols in force.
• Refer high risk antenatal mothers, complicated deliveries, mothers with post-partum problems and any baby in need on time to a secondary facility as per MSF guidelines and protocol.
• Issue birth certificate, record the details of the delivery in the designated files and books.
• Stock delivery rooms with all necessary items for standard care and acute midwifery care.
• Inform designated cleaners after each contamination of the delivery rooms to ensure a high standard of hygiene in the ward.
• Postpartum and discharge management

In the Maternity Ward, the midwife is expected to:

• Actively participate in ward rounds with the head midwife supervisor and/or expat midwife.
• Ensure post-natal follow up (deliveries): pain control, height of the uterus, amount of the bleeding, color of the conjunctives, breastfeeding, wound care, medication, drip, bladder catheterization, etc. etc.
• Supervise new-born care daily: temperature, weight, umbilical cord, fontanels, skin condition etc. etc.
• Support mothers on exclusive breastfeeding
• To check the nutritional state, the good hydration and intestinal transit of patients
• Advice on family planning methods before discharge
• Complete the PNC card at the designated moments (6 hours, 6 days postpartum)
• Give hygiene and health education to each mother according to the specific needs of herself and her newborn baby.
• Encourage and facilitate vaccination of newborns.
• Ensure sanitary education of patients; advise mothers on useful topics for their home return; breastfeeding, emergency signs of post-partum complications, care of wounds (e.g. episiotomy), etc. etc.
• Ensure the patient’s correct understanding of possible treatment.
• Verify that the patient has received all necessary documents: birth certification, ANC, , soap, PNC card, etc. etc.
• Ensure the disinfection of the bed; make sure that linen, blankets are taken to the laundry room by the cleaners.
• Complete and gather the patient’s file and store in the designated area and record discharge according to protocols in force.
• Care for survivors of sexual and gender based violence

In the Maternity Ward and in the health posts, the midwife is expected to:

• Give priority to care for survivors of SGBV.
• Wear a white coat or white MSF t-shirt when taking history of an SGBV survivor.
• Use designated SGBV forms, record in designated recording books.
• Refer the patient to the health center for further management if necessary.
• Keep full confidentiality and make sure files are stored in designated locked area.
• Hygiene/asepsis, waste disposal and stock keeping

In the Maternity Ward the midwife is expected to:

• Keep the ward clean and tidy.
• Sort waste and use appropriate containers and bins (sharps, combustible waste, domestic waste).
• Follow cleaning and instrument sterilization procedures.
• Respect universal hygiene and asepsis rules during care.
• Watch over the hygiene of the patients.
• Watch over the ward’s medication and renewable stock.
• Identify shortage of stock and inform head midwife or expat midwife timely (renewable stock/sterilization materials like delivery sets/medication).

Quality and Continuity of Care:
In the Maternity Ward and in the health posts, the midwife is expected to:

• Respect the medical secret, and guarantee confidentiality.
• Respect dignity and the intimacy of hospitalized patients. Assure a maximum of patients’ comfort.
• Update patients’ and newborns’ files
• Participate in collecting needed data for monthly reports.
• Participate in any relevant meeting.
• Make sure of a good hand-over of the different shifts (day-night-day) and with the person who replaces during lunch break. Update the Hand Over Whiteboard accordingly.
• Respect care protocols and the mode of administering treatment.
• Be present at trainings and justify each absence to the head midwife.
• Be proactive to share your knowledge and train/refresh midwives on the job.
• Health post (CAMP)

In the health post the midwife is expected to:

• Carry out ANC, PNC, FP and SGBV care as per protocol in force.
• Carry out EPI.
• Encourage expecting mothers to come back for follow up.
• Conduct “emergency deliveries” (i.e. mothers in labor that could not be send to the health post timely and deliver in the health post) and refer them to the nearest health center.
• Refer high risk antenatal mothers, mothers with post-partum problems and any baby in need on time to the health center or secondary facility.
• Ask the medical supervisor where help/support can be given in the general functioning of the health post, when his/her duties for ANC, PNC, FP and SGBV are fulfilled.
• Ensure that the consultation room is tidy and clean.
• Identify shortage of materials timely and inform the supervisor.

Others:

• At all times, the midwife informs the head midwife before leaving duty and ensures that the maternity is never without qualified staff to ensure maximum safety of mothers and babies.

Requirements
Education:

• Diploma in Midwifery with a valid license from the Nursing/Midwifery board.

Experience:

• Essential working experience of at least one year as midwife

Languages:

• English is a MUST and local language would be an asset.

Knowledge:

• Good comprehension and articulation of RH activities.

Competences:

• TBC

General:

• The responsibilities mentioned above are not exhaustive and other work can be required according to the needs of the mission.
• Mobility is requested from ALIMA staff, including short term assignments from their usual place of work.
• Part of any ALIMA-employee responsibilities is the attendance of trainings as per the requirements of the organisation.
• The job description can be modified according to the evolution of the work.

Important Remarks

• BEmONC = basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care = Administration of antibiotics, oxytocics, anticonvulsants, manual removal of the placenta, removal of retained products following abortion, assisted vaginal delivery, preferably with vacuum extractor and newborn care including neonatal resuscitation.
• CEmONC = comprehensive obstetric and neonatal care = the full package of BEmONC Plus; surgery (caesarean section, hysterectomy, laparotomy), safe blood transfusion and care to sick and low birth weight newborns

Application Closing Date
6th March, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should submit online their Cover Letter, CV with Color Picture and Qualifications with contact details to ALIMA’s recruitment email via: recruitment@nigeria.alima.ngo 
And
You can also submit hardcopies to ALIMA’s Office at:
No. 2 Jinn Road,
Off Damboa Road, Behind UNHCR Office,
Maiduguri - Borno State.
Or
House No A3 20 House,
Monguno - Borno State
Or
ALIMA Monguno Office.

Note

• Only successful applicants will be called for interview.
• No monetary transactions, neither demands of favors in kind, nor other types of favoritism will be tolerated in the recruitment process.
• This job description is not intended to be all inclusive as it could be amended from time to time according to the needs of the mission.