Public health Officer (epidemiology)

The Public Health Officer (epidemiology) will assist in developing tools and indicators for surveillance and response programmes, contribute to early warning systems for epidemic diseases, collect and verify outbreak information, and support training and technical missions related to infectious disease control. The role involves monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of outbreak information to support public health responses in Fiji.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing appropriate tools and indicators for monitoring implementation of programmes on surveillance and response for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
• Contribute to the development of an early warning and response system for epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases.
• Collect and verify information on reported outbreaks or rumors from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
• Maintain and adapt an event management system database of reported outbreaks and public health events and document all steps taken in the verification and response process.
• Undertake monitoring and evaluation of risk assessments based on incoming epidemic intelligence and verification of information and brief the responsible officials on a periodical basis on the evolving health situation.
• Conduct retrospective analysis of reported events: determine trends, distribution patterns, and efficiency of the verification mechanism.
• Prepare and disseminate disease outbreak news, updates and assessments to key decision makers in the organizational hierarchy.
• Organize training courses for health care workers on field investigation, surveillance and response to outbreaks.
• Organize technical missions for field investigation of outbreaks as required.
• Participate in the development of rapid field assessment, risk assessment and investigation protocols for specific priority diseases in accordance with APSHAF and IHR (2005), as required.
• Participate in the elaboration of guidelines for epidemic control.
• Disseminate technical documents, guidelines and protocols on prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to the national health authorities.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with relevant bodies, agencies and sectors in order to facilitate implementation of public health policies and programmes for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in epidemiology, medicine or public health with specialization in epidemiology.
• Advanced university degree (master's level or higher) related to epidemiology or post-graduate training in epidemiology (Field Epidemiology Training Programme) is desirable.
• At least five years' relevant work experience, with proven international exposure, in epidemiology including implementing programmes, policies, and guidelines as well as monitoring and evaluation of diseases and public health issues.
• Relevant international experience in the areas of outbreak investigation and response for emerging and re-emerging diseases is desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge, competency and professional skills on the public health aspects of infectious disease control, and the use of monitoring and evaluation of descriptive epidemiology and principles of public health in communicable disease surveillance and response.
• Ability to write reports on outbreaks and interpret epidemiological surveillance data.
• Good presentation and writing skills.
• Expert knowledge of English.

Skills

• Epidemiology
• Outbreak Investigation
• Infectious Disease Control
• Disease Surveillance
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Public health programme implementation
• Epidemiological Analysis
• Report Writing
• Surveillance Data Interpretation
• Early Warning Systems
• Training Delivery
• Technical Support in Public Health
• Field Epidemiology Training
• Communicable Disease Surveillance
• Public Health Policy Implementation
• Outbreak Response
• Surveillance Tools Development

Languages

English