Country: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Sudan
Closing date: 02 Dec 2016
The international organization “*EMERGENCY*” is offering a life changing experience to expert paediatricians, who will have the opportunity to provide free of charge and high-quality healthcare to the children victims of war, landmines and poverty.
We provide a temporary or a permanent contract, monthly salaries, incentives for successive or long duration missions, paid holidays (20 dd for 6 months of contract), travel expenses, board and lodgings, insurance cover.
This role requires complete and autonomous capacity in the diagnosis and clinical management of paediatric patients, including clinical emergencies and patients suffering from malnutrition.
Projects:Bangui (CAR), Goderich (Sierra Leone), Port Sudan (Sudan), Mayo (Sudan)
Type of contract: paid - 6 months
Language required: English or French (intermediate proficiency)
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Medical Degree and current professional registration on the medical register of your country of residence;
specialisation in Paediatrics and/or Infectious diseases with at least 5 years' relevant professional experience;
relevant hospital experience, particularly on paediatric wards;
experience in tropical medicine and/or paediatric primary health care would be an advantage;
good working knowledge of English or French
BACKGROUND AND ORGANISATION OF WORK
The International Specialist supervises, coordinates and works alongside the national medical personnel - 2 or 3 colleagues per shift - usually in collaboration with an international paediatric nurse. At times, a resident physician (Paediatrics) will be present to support clinical activity or research.
The international medical specialist is responsible to the Medical Coordinator, who is in charge of the management and organisation of the project.
The departments in which you may be required to work are:
OUT PATIENTS DEPARTMENT: 2-3 treatment rooms, also equipped for the management of medical emergencies;
PAEDIATRIC WARD: the paediatric ward has between 8 and 18 beds, depending on the project.
The international medical specialist participates in the daily ward round together with the local staff. You will be present in the clinic 5-6 days a week, collaborate with the nursing personnel responsible for triage on the morning shift, or supervise the work of the national medics in the treatment rooms. You will also be on-call 24/7 for emergencies on the ward or in Out Patients Department (OPD); the latter does not apply to Mayo (see below).
The international specialist collaborates with the organisation of the national doctors' rota to guarantee medical care coverage 24/7 on the ward.
DUTIES AND REPONSIBILITIES
All EMERGENCY international personnel are expected to know and follow the hospital admissions criteria, guide lines, protocols, and the diagnosis and treatment standards in use in the Centre, and to ensure the correct compilation of clinical records and statistics in both computer and paper formats.
The main duties and responsibilities of the international Paediatrician/Infectious Diseases specialist are:
diagnosis and management of the main paediatric illnesses, especially infectious diseases;
management of malnourished paediatric patients, who are often very young (from 0-3 years);
management of paediatric emergencies;
to offer on-the-job and formal teaching to the national doctors;
mentoring of resident physicians (where present);
to assist with clinical research and record keeping as required by the scientific programmes of the specialist sector of the Medical Division of EMERGENCY.
Clinical activity and decisions regarding patient treatment must always be discussed and shared with the national doctors and nurses, the international paediatric nurse and the Medical Coordinator of the project.
MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OF LOCAL PERSONNEL
Clinical activities and patient care are always carried out alongside and in collaboration with local personnel, who thus benefit from training in the field. There is also provision for more specific teaching activities, managed by the international specialists, in accordance with the clinical protocols in use and as agreed with the Medical Coordinator.
CASELOAD AND EQUIPMENT
The admissions criteria and therefore the caseload vary according to the project. The technological level of the equipment present in the Centres is suited to the clinical and managerial protocols in use, and the level of professional autonomy of the national staff, with the aim of achieving - and sustaining - high standards of care.
The basic reference tool is the EMERGENCY book of Paediatric Guide Lines, updated in January 2013.
PAEDIATRIC CENTRE - Bangui, Central African Republic
Since 2009 the Centre has offered basic health and hospital care for children under 14 years of age, and health and hygiene education aimed at families. An average of 70 children are seen each day, the most common illnesses being malaria - often with encephalopathy - respiratory infections, drepanocytosis (sickle cell anaemia) and malnutrition. An Antenatal Care programme is also operational, managed by the national midwife.
The Centre has 2 paediatric clinics (OPD) and a cardiology clinic, as well as a pharmacy and an external play area. The ward has 8 beds with almost constant 100% occupancy levels.
COMPLEXE PÉDIATRIQUE - Central African Republic, Bangui
Following the coup d'état that took place in late March 2013, an EMERGENCY team is working at the Complexe pédiatrique (the public paediatrics hospital) in Bangui. After having set two Operating Theatres up and running again, our doctors and nurses have started operating there, working on war- and non war-related surgery based on the most urgent needs of the local population.
PAEDIATRIC CENTRE - Goderich, Sierra Leone
This Centre has been operational since 2002, and is annexed to the EMERGENCY Surgical Centre. Every day over 130 patients are seen in clinic, and the most serious cases admitted to the ward. Malaria is endemic in this country and in most cases presents with serious complications including convulsions, hypoglycaemia, septic shock and severe anaemia. Other commonly encountered pathologies are respiratory infections, typhoid fever and tetanus. The paediatric**ward has 14 beds** and all the services of the hospital are available for use.
PAEDIATRIC CENTRE - Port Sudan, Sudan
The Port Sudan Paediatric Centre opened in December 2011. The health staff see an average of**60 patients per day** - around 20% of patients are under 1 year of age - mainly for respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, parasitic infestations, and malnutrition. In addition to the paediatric and cardiology clinics, there is a pharmacy and all technical and auxiliary services. The ward has 18 beds.
All these facilities have oxygen supplies, pulse oximeter, nebuliser equipment, syringe and infusion pumps, and suction equipment. In terms of diagnostics, basic laboratory tests and X-rays can be carried out.
PAEDIATRIC CENTRE (out-patient clinic) - Mayo, Sudan
This facility was opened in December 2005 in a camp for internally displaced persons on the outskirts of the capital Khartoum. The clinic is open from 07:00 - 16:00, 5 days a week, and sees an average of 50-60 paediatric patients per day. In agreement with the local Health Authority, a vaccination programme and antenatal and postnatal services are operational with the aim of reducing maternal, infant and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates. An outreach programme promoting health and hygiene is also under way, in an area otherwise completely deprived of free specialist health care services.
The clinic has 8 beds for the observation and stabilisation of children in need of admission to other facilities.
The international staff employed in the Mayo Clinic share logistics and lodgings with the international staff of the Salam Centre for Cardiac Surgery.
GUIDELINES, PROTOCOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Further information on the guidelines, protocols and clinical services relevant to the post, along with details of the instruments and equipment available will be provided at interview and during the period of preparation for the mission.
The general requirements and conditions are the same as for other international personnel roles.
How to apply:
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please complete the on-line application form.
For further information and inquiries: recruiting@emergency.it.