Birth Defects Surveillance Research Nurse – Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM)

Job Description

The Malawi Government through the Ministry of Health established Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) in 2012, as a Centre of Excellence in Public Health. Its primary role is to provide leadership in disease surveillance, research, prevention, and control through generating evidence that informs policy and advances practices in public health service delivery. PHIM is dedicated to strengthening the nation’s capacity in order to respond to a broad spectrum of public health challenges. This includes addressing emerging communicable and non-communicable diseases.

PHIM with technical and financial support from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is implementing a five (5) year project, entitled “Building and Strengthening Public Health Systems for HIV and Public Health Surveillance, Response, and Control in Malawi” under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through a Cooperative Agreement (CoAg). The project aims to enhance national HIV surveillance and response and strengthen the public health infrastructure and capacity to respond to public health threats and events, including infectious disease outbreaks, pandemics, and other public health emergencies among people living with HIV.

In order to achieve the objectives of the Cooperative Agreement, PHIM seeks to hire qualified candidates for the following positions;

Birth Defects Surveillance Research Nurse

Reporting to: Birth Defects Surveillance Project Coordinator

Terms of Employment : One (1) year Contract (Renewable)

Job Purpose:

Reporting directly to the BDS Project Coordinator, the Research Nurses will be conducting deliveries at participating health facilities, examination of newborns at delivery, enrolment of maternal infant pairs into sub-studies, completion of CRFs, providing nursing care and other project duties as may be
assigned from time to time.

Responsibilities Technical

• Assisting the BDS Project Coordinator in developing, revising and updating BDS standard operating procedures.
• Obtaining informed consent from study participants for the study and any related sub- studies.
• Conducting deliveries at participating health facilities.
• Examination of newborns and enrolment of maternal infant pairs.
• Completion of CRFs.
• Support in responding to data queries.
• Conduct QC of study data (paper and tablets).
• Supporting Site Focal person/managers in identifying and resolving BDS implementation challenges.
• Building and maintaining a good work relation with key partners.
• Mentoring of BDS activities to key partners, especially Ministry of health staff

Data capturing and recording:

• Conducts daily reviews of Case Report Forms and source documents to ensure accurate data recording.
• Assisting the Site Focal person/Manager in ordering and accounting for supplies at the clinic and research ward.
• Assisting the Site Focal person/Manager in collecting and compiling data on screening, enrolment and follow-up processes for submission to the BDS Project Coordinator.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and Midwifery or Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery.
• Must be registered with the Nurses and Midwifery Council of Malawi
• At least two (2) years’ experience in Birth Defects Surveillance
• Must have a minimum of two (2) years’ work experience in research setting.

MODE OF APPLICATION.

Interested persons should submit their application letters that should include copies of relevant certificates and Curriculum Vitae which has phone numbers and names of three traceable referees
to:

The Secretary for Health

Ministry of Health

P.O. Box 30377

LILONGWE 3

Email: recruitment@health.gov.mw

Attention: Director of Human Resource Management and Development The advert can also be accessed on www.health.gov.mw

Closing date for receipt of the applications is Friday 6th December, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: Officers who are on government payroll are not eligible to apply.