Epidemiologist at the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET)

AFENET is a non-profit networking and service alliance of Field Epidemiology (and Laboratory) Training Programs (FELTPs), and other applied epidemiology training programs. AFENET has operations in over 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa or the World Health Organisation Africa Region (WHO - AFRO). Established in 2005, AFENET is dedicated to helping Ministries of Health in Africa build strong, effective, sustainable programs and capacity to improve public health systems on the African continent.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Epidemiologist

Location: Abuja

Introduction

• The purpose of this position is to provide information technology expertise to improve the national surveillance and laboratory data network for measles, rubella, and yellow fever. Responsibilities include:
  • Providing information strategy support for laboratory information management system (LIMS) including system refinement, data cleaning, and data analysis, summary, reporting and presentation; and
  • Developing and implementing methods for harmonizing laboratory and vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) surveillance data.

Major Duties

• Design, plan, develop and enhance information systems for VPD surveillance; provide technical expertise and advice on the coordination of surveillance and laboratory networks for these VPDs; provide guidance to strengthen the LIMS.
• Meet and consult with heads or representatives of various agencies to resolve problems in laboratory data quality management and safety, laboratory planning or other functions related to laboratory-based surveillance for measles, Rubella, and Yellow fever
• Develop training materials and facilitate training of laboratorians on the role of laboratory testing in VPDs surveillance and related laboratory data analysis and reporting.
• Attend meetings to address problems, plans for current and future activities and makes recommendations on laboratory data management and use for action as required. Communicate with colleagues, NCDC officials, management and other contacts on laboratory performance for informed decision making.
• Ascertain the status of VPD laboratory information management systems through review of reports and discussions/consultations with key stakeholders. 
• Develop methods of tracking laboratory surveillance indicators and ensure the monitoring of VPDs specimen receipt, testing and reporting of results. Establish management plans to overcome challenges and resolve problems.  Advise and guide the officials reporting to the Director in the development of laboratory data systems improvements.
• Liaise with the epidemiologist and other stakeholders concerned to establish procedures for data management of the VPD test results and linking them to the epidemiologic surveillance data to inform decision making.
• Develop and coordinate programmatic design for existing and new laboratories by gathering, consolidating, and analysing scientific and programmatic information, and facilitate the harmonization of laboratory and VPD surveillance data and integration of information strategy support to strengthen the laboratory information management system.
• Additionally, the incumbent will provide guidance on evaluating capacity and readiness of laboratories to stand up measles, rubella, and yellow fever and other VPD testing and reporting.
• Help strengthen the laboratory database and ensure that the data is reported timely, complete, and accurate, and support the inter-phasing of this database with SORMAS.
• Serve as the consultant for laboratory enhancement initiatives and by using data for action, support the capacity building of the laboratories to respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious disease and VPD outbreaks.

As part of the NCDC technical working group, the consultant will:

• Identify and respond to the data management needs of the laboratories
• Work closely with the technical working group on laboratory data management and link findings with the epi surveillance data
• Support the continuous use of SORMAS for guiding strategies and intervention that will improve the quality of data reported
• Support the design of data collection, entry and reporting instruments, including paper forms, mobile phone data entry tools, trouble shooting, and computer data entry tools as needed
• Maintain the format or further develop the structures of various dashboards according to the program needs.
• Provide support in the strengthening of the laboratory data management system and provide technical support for building the capacity of the laboratories in proper documentation and management of reported data.
• Perform data analysis and produce reports, presentations in various formats including graphs and charts.
• Support the design and maintenance of a laboratory database, including creating automated dashboards, reports, queries, and other functionalities.
• Design or refine laboratory surveillance quality indicators and systems to monitor and report indicators on a monthly basis.
• Review data reported from states, provide feedback on the quality of the data and make suggestions for improvements on the data analysis, as needed
• Clean, harmonize, compile, analyse and disseminate data provided by the states especially data that are cross-cutting on issues and produce reports that inform action
• Support the presentation and visualization of results from data activities to guide interventions that help to improve the surveillance of VPDs to include measles, yellow fever, and rubella
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualification

• Certifications, license, physical requirements or other expertise required
• Required: Masters’ degree (or equivalent) in Data Management, Epidemiology, Public Health, Laboratory Information Management System or related field

Prior work experience:

• Possess at least 3 years’ experience in data management, and or working with public health surveillance /monitoring and evaluation system
• Experience working vaccine preventable disease data
• Experience in monitoring laboratory data
• Experience in Programming Languages such as Python, C++, PHP, .Net and other related languages.
• Experience in GIS Map analysis (ARC GIS, QGIS, Health Mapper)
• Must also have previous experience working with DHIS.
• Experience with STATA, MathLab, SPSS, CSPRO, Epi Info, SAS

Knowledge Requirements:

• Language Proficiency: Level IV English (fluency in both written and oral) is required.
• Job Knowledge: A good understanding of public health, data compilation and management, data analysis and laboratory information system. In addition, experience or knowledge of immunization and public health surveillance systems is an advantage.
• Skills and Abilities: Possess advanced data management and analysis skills and proficiency with data management software (EPI-Info, Microsoft Excel, Access, SAS, SQL, or STATA). Experience with web-based applications is desired.
• Reporting structure: He/she will work under the supervision of the surveillance lead at NCDC and will work closely with the technical working groups on surveillance. He/she will be supervised by AFENET/NSTOP with direct guidance and oversight provided by US CDC and will be expected to provide a monthly report to both AFENET and CDC.

Application Closing Date
30th August, 2019.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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