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UNFPA-Infectious Diseases Management Specialist-P3/P4-Kigali, Rwanda (20% travel)
Kigali, RwandaPosition Title: Infectious Diseases Management Specialist
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P4
Location: Kigali, Rwanda (20% travel to other duty stations)
Duration: 2 months
Language: Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French is an asset
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
On 26 September 2024, the Ministry of Health in Rwanda reported the first confirmed case of the Marburg virus at the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. The index case is bereaved in addition to 7 other cases (only 6 currently related to the index case, 2 unrelated person makes the 8th dead patient) by September 29,2024
A total of 26 cases have been laboratory confirmed while 161 contacts of the confirmed cases have been traced. Most of the confirmed cases are in Kigali with a few in the Northern and North/East regions with health workers making up more than 90% of the confirmed cases so far.
The Government has officially declared an outbreak of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), and the country immediately stepped up its anti-epidemic response. The systems used for the COVID19 response and the now almost contained Mpox virus have been reactivated. It is instructive to note that as of September 30, 2024, no known case of the Marburg Virus Disease has been reported in any of the neighboring countries. It is the first time Rwanda is experiencing an outbreak of the MVDs even though some of its neighboring countries have reported outbreaks in the past.
Although Rwanda is in a better position to handle such outbreaks compared to its neighbors, the Marburg virus is highly contagious and has an extremely high fatality rate within a very short time, meaning that any health system can be quickly overwhelmed if urgent actions in human and material resources are not timely deployed, considering that more than 90% of cases are among the Health Care Workers who are supposed to take care of the sick in an outbreak of this nature after being exposed after treating the index case. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare, serious disease, with an average case fatality rate of around 50%, ranging from 24% to 88%. MVD is transmitted to people from egyptian fruit bats and spreads from human-to-human transmission. MVD spreads from person-to-person through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from MVD; contact with surface materials that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with MVD or the body of a person who died from MVD. Pregnant women with MVD face very high (>95%) rates of spontaneous abortion, fetal or neonatal death. Women who are infected while pregnant require special care and follow up, as the virus persists in pregnancy-related fluids and tissue after recovery, as well as breast milk. Additionally, potential onward sexual transmission from semen in male survivors poses high risks for up to 12 months.
Past outbreaks (such as Ebola) have demonstrated that the reduction in access and availability of essential sexual and reproductive health services have resulted in more deaths than the disease itself. Ensuring the continuity of essential, lifesaving SRH and GBV services under UNFPA’s mandate throughout the outbreak is therefore a priority action. Strong coordination and rapid response in the early phases of the outbreak will help UNFPA uphold its mandate across response pillars and activities.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Rwanda is a relatively peaceful nation.
Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime: There is no specific threat of terrorism against Rwanda, nor has it been a traditional target of terrorist violence.
International or Transnational Terrorism: There is no evidence of terrorist factions actively operating in Rwanda.
Civil Unrest: Rwanda is a stable country with no incidents of unrest.
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support public health interventions
Receiving Agency: UNFPA
P Level: P3/P4
Location: Kigali, Rwanda (20% travel to other duty stations)
Duration: 2 months
Language: Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of French is an asset
Mission Specific Considerations
Remote-Based Deployments (if remote-based please only fill in this table)
| Considerations for remote-based deployments | |
| If the deployment is remote-based, is the country office set up to ensure ongoing communication / team integration and appropriate supervision with the deployee from afar? Please explain. | NA |
Physical deployments (only fill out if you anticipate surge to physically deploy)
| Pre-departure considerations for physical deployments | |
| Does this duty station require candidates to have undertaken SSAFE training? If so, can the office provide training upon arrival? | SSAFE is not required in Rwanda |
| Visa Are there any special/new, specific visa considerations that need to be considered? |
All holders of African passport and commonwealth member counties require no entry visa for the 1st 30 days. Other nationalities would need Visa on arrival in Rwanda unless the candidate has a valid UNLP |
| Equipment Is there any equipment that the Surge should become equipped with prior to travel, e.g. PPE such as masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc? |
No |
| Is there any other paperwork that the local government authorities require upon entry/re-entry into the country? |
The invitation letter from UNFPA Rwanda CO |
| On mission considerations (for physical deployments): | |
| Accommodation What type of accommodation is available for Surge employees? |
Regular hotels are available both in Kigali and in the country sides |
| R&R | No |
| Is the duty station on an R&R cycle and if so how often? | No |
| Medical Treatment Are there any government restrictions or limitations that would adversely impact in-country medical treatment plans or medical evacuation? |
No |
| Office arrangement for telecommuting If the Surge needs to telecommute within the country, can the country office demonstrate that the deployee is realistically able to work in terms of remote connectivity, equipment, etc.? |
N/A |
Background Description of Emergency / Justification for Request
On 26 September 2024, the Ministry of Health in Rwanda reported the first confirmed case of the Marburg virus at the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. The index case is bereaved in addition to 7 other cases (only 6 currently related to the index case, 2 unrelated person makes the 8th dead patient) by September 29,2024
A total of 26 cases have been laboratory confirmed while 161 contacts of the confirmed cases have been traced. Most of the confirmed cases are in Kigali with a few in the Northern and North/East regions with health workers making up more than 90% of the confirmed cases so far.
The Government has officially declared an outbreak of the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), and the country immediately stepped up its anti-epidemic response. The systems used for the COVID19 response and the now almost contained Mpox virus have been reactivated. It is instructive to note that as of September 30, 2024, no known case of the Marburg Virus Disease has been reported in any of the neighboring countries. It is the first time Rwanda is experiencing an outbreak of the MVDs even though some of its neighboring countries have reported outbreaks in the past.
Although Rwanda is in a better position to handle such outbreaks compared to its neighbors, the Marburg virus is highly contagious and has an extremely high fatality rate within a very short time, meaning that any health system can be quickly overwhelmed if urgent actions in human and material resources are not timely deployed, considering that more than 90% of cases are among the Health Care Workers who are supposed to take care of the sick in an outbreak of this nature after being exposed after treating the index case. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is a rare, serious disease, with an average case fatality rate of around 50%, ranging from 24% to 88%. MVD is transmitted to people from egyptian fruit bats and spreads from human-to-human transmission. MVD spreads from person-to-person through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from MVD; contact with surface materials that have been contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with MVD or the body of a person who died from MVD. Pregnant women with MVD face very high (>95%) rates of spontaneous abortion, fetal or neonatal death. Women who are infected while pregnant require special care and follow up, as the virus persists in pregnancy-related fluids and tissue after recovery, as well as breast milk. Additionally, potential onward sexual transmission from semen in male survivors poses high risks for up to 12 months.
Past outbreaks (such as Ebola) have demonstrated that the reduction in access and availability of essential sexual and reproductive health services have resulted in more deaths than the disease itself. Ensuring the continuity of essential, lifesaving SRH and GBV services under UNFPA’s mandate throughout the outbreak is therefore a priority action. Strong coordination and rapid response in the early phases of the outbreak will help UNFPA uphold its mandate across response pillars and activities.
Security Situation Summary in country and main threats: (i.e armed conflict, terrorism, crime, social unrest, hazard)
Rwanda is a relatively peaceful nation.
Regional Terrorism and Organized Crime: There is no specific threat of terrorism against Rwanda, nor has it been a traditional target of terrorist violence.
International or Transnational Terrorism: There is no evidence of terrorist factions actively operating in Rwanda.
Civil Unrest: Rwanda is a stable country with no incidents of unrest.
Hazards:
- Road Traffic Accidents (RTA): Most common accidents are road accidents (RTA), and this is mostly due to the insufficient quality of road (small roads) and the presence of motorcycles used as a mode of public transport in addition to public buses.
- Environmental Hazards: Flooding may be a concern during the rainy season in some areas. Flash flooding may overrun the natural drainage ravines and/or wash out roadways.
- Hazards associated with Marburg Virus Disease outbreak
Key Profile Information
In the context of the Marburg Virus Disease outbreak in Rwanda , the Public Health/Infectious diseases management Specialist will provide technical advice for overall strategic categories and related public health programmes and ensure that SRH and GBV related concerns are considered and addressed as part of the overall PH effort.MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Support public health interventions
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- Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA CO Representative, and in close coordination with WHO Emergency Coordinator, the Public Health/Infectious diseases management Specialist will be responsible to support public health interventions and to ensure SRH and GBV considerations are integrated into the MVD outbreak response.
- Strengthen emergency response/resilience and preparedness activities to reduce mortality, morbidity related to direct and indirect impact of Marburg Virus Disease outbreak (including disruptions of essential services).
- Advising national and international actors on public health, SRH and GBV issues related to the emergency response.
- Liaising with other sectors in providing a coordinated public health, SRH and GBV response to the MVD outbreak
- Providing technical public health, SRH and GBV advice for strategic planning, project management and reporting.
These activities will include the following:
- Together with the interagency outbreak response team, help identify and prioritize Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) preparedness (in at-risk zones) and response activities (in affected zones), with a focus on SRH and GBV considerations.
- Assess and support the continuity of essential health services, including a focus on ensuring continuity of essential SRH and GBV services, based on identified top priorities and needs of the affected populations.
- Collaborate with national authorities, health and protection partners as part of a coordinated outbreak response strategy; analyze existing coordination mechanisms, designing and recommending improvements.
- Ensure inclusion of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender Based Violence (GBV), and gender concerns in joint outbreak response, under WHO leadership, in close collaboration with UNFPA Country office SRH and GBV officers.
- Provide analysis of the public health risks, needs and capacities and advise on priority interventions for UNFPA and partners; challenges and operational course correctors, as applicable.
- Coordinate with and ensure UNFPA involvement in relevant Response Pillars according to its mandate, including SRH and GBV considerations for: infection prevention and control, surveillance, disease case management, and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), amongst others.
- Assist the Country Office to adapt UNFPA country programme in their planning, coordination and implementation of MVD outbreak in view of ensuring that life-saving SRH and GBV services continue with the required adaptations.
- Assess the level of access and availability of essential SRH and GBV services in affected areas, and for any quarantined/locked down populations. Advocate for and facilitate, continued access for populations
- Secure information from a broad range of health actors, analyzing such and consolidating health data in trends and trends assessment, with particular attention to surveillance, monitoring and early warning.
- Advise the UNFPA CO and assist in the preparation for and participate in coordination meetings relating to outbreak emergency response, and ensure follow up.
Capacity Development
- Analyze results of monitoring visits and data to identify capacity development needs.
- Support the capacity development of UNFPA and its partners to respond to SRH and GBV related needs in outbreak response.
Partnerships and Coordination
- Participation in outbreak coordination meetings; ensure that SRH and GBV considerations are mainstreamed in the response and all actors are upholding minimum standards (e.g. MISP and minimum standards for GBV in emergencies).
- Advocating for the inclusion of SRH and GBV needs within outbreak funding proposals and response plans.
- Advising other sectors (particularly WASH, protection, RCCE) on SRH and GBV considerations.
- Identify areas of collaboration with humanitarian agencies and national counterparts to address SRH, HIV/AIDS, youth, gender and GBV issues in their outbreak response plans, and programmes.
- Contribute in assessments, planning and reporting.
- Monitor and update GBV and SRH referral pathways, determine protocols for triage and referral to these services and propose appropriate needs-based referral mechanisms that are effective in addressing specific issues.
Monitoring and Reporting
- Liaise with UNFPA RO and HQ units to share information on the outbreak, provide necessary updates and seek guidance as necessary.
- Conduct a review of public health response and prevention interventions to crisis-affected populations to ensure that all interventions are in line with guiding principles.
- Produce inputs to regular progress reports and Sit Reps as required.
Technical leadership
- Provide technical assistance and capacity development support to UNFPA SRH and GBV staff and WHO Emergency Coordinator.
- Provide technical updates and training to partners in relevant technical areas related to the emergency response.
Qualifications and Skills Required
- Master degree in public health, clinical background (with infectious diseases management is an asset.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience, at the national and international levels, in public health in emergencies response or health sector coordination.
- Previous experience managing outbreaks is an asset.
- Previous SRH, GBV or Humanitarian coordination with UNFPA SURGE is an asset
- Experience in capacity building, developing and promoting collaborative partnerships.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work within different cultural environments;
- Strong knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms; and strong cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Relevant work experience in UNFPA or WHO, or other UN agencies, health cluster partners, recognized humanitarian organizations or relevant non-governmental or humanitarian organizations.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. French is an advantage.
CANADEM and its partners have a no-tolerance policy for inaction to prevent, respond to and follow up on alleged cases of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). For this reason, we adhere to all policies, procedures and training of the United Nations on The Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH). CANADEM mandates all deployees successfully complete the PSEA online course. This e-learning course is composed of a set of lessons designed to raise awareness about SEAH, become familiar with a range of measures to combat SEAH, understand the impact on victims and the consequences for UN Personnel who commit Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.