Download the Jobs App
Zambia has been implementing the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) since 1975. The
programme is mandated to contribute to the reduction in morbidity and mortality attributed to Vaccine Preventable Disease across the life course. Over the years the programme has scored a number of achievements which include expansion of the number of vaccines in the National Immunisation Schedule, achieved and sustained polio-free status and maternal neonatal tetanus elimination, generally high vaccination coverage for selected vaccines as well as expansion of cold chain capacity.
Despite these achievements and evidence-based benefits of immunisation, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation is also faced with a number of challenges in ensuring the equitable access and utilisation of the immunisation services. Among these challenges include suboptimal, coverage rates for selected antigen; geographic, demographic and socioeconomic disparities; suboptimal data quality and use for decision making; as well as inadequate tailored strategies to effectively identify and reach vulnerable populations and ineffective communication strategies. Additionally, the country is faced with a problem of increasing number of zero dose and underimmunised children as well as missed communities who remain vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs).
Zambia in its National Immunisation Strategy (2022 – 2026) is focus in bridging the gap in the identifying and reaching of missed communities across the life course. This strategy is aligned to Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Gavi 5.0 strategy. One of the opportunities to identify and reach these vulnerable population is through recently approved the Health Systems Strengthening (HSS), Equity Accelerator Fund (EAF) and Innovation Top-up Funding (ITUF) among other support provided to the country by the Gavi, the vaccine alliance.
The Ministry of Health will implement this support over a 3 to 5-year period in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF, CIDRZ, and CHAZ.
The main focus of the support is as follows:
i) Vaccine goal: Introduction and scaling-up coverage of high-impact vaccines.
ii) Equity goal: Strengthen health systems to increase equity in immunisations.
iii) Sustainability goal: Improve sustainability of the immunisation programme.
Additionally, Zambia shall focus on:
iv) Strengthening capacities to inform evidence-based prioritisation of vaccines which are suitable for
local context.
v) Introducing and scaling up coverage of vaccines for prevention of endemic, epidemic and pandemic
diseases
vi) Improving timely outbreak and pandemic response by ensuring equitable access to relative vaccines.
vii) Developing and implementing tailored strategies that consistently identify and reach underimmunised and zero dose children and missed communities as well as address gender related
barriers to immunisation.
viii) Utilising immunisation to strengthen the primary health care system to enable the equitable reach of zero dose and under immunised children and missed communities.
ix) Harnessing the use of innovations that are tailored to respond to community needs, thereby building resilient, well managed and sustainable systems.
x) Reinforcing national and subnational political and social commitment and ownership of immunisation.
xi) Advocating for increased domestic public resources for immunisation and primary health care and
establishing public private partnerships for immunisation.
The overall vision in Zambia is to reduce the number of zero dose children by 35% by 2025 using the FPP support in both the HSS and EAF grants.
To support the above, specifically as relevant for the HSS, EAF and ITUF grants. The Ministry of Health
seeks to recruit suitably qualified and experienced persons to be appointed to the under listed positions under this project:
PROGRAMME COORDINATOR (01)
Location: Ministry of Health, Child Health and Nutrition Unit – EPI
Area of Operation: Selected target Provinces and Districts
Reports to: National EPI Manager
Job Purpose
To support the Ministry of Health National EPI Manager to plan, coordinate and monitor the
implementation of Gavi-supported HSS, EAF and ITUF grants at all levels (National, Provincial, and
Districts) in accordance with the approved funding and in collaboration with all implementing partners.
Responsibilities/Principal Accountabilities
-
Supervises effectively, human, financial and other material resources to facilitate achievement of set objectives.
-
Liaise effectively with stakeholders in order to share and adopt best practices in implementation and betterment of all primary health care services.
-
Support the districts and provinces to address system bottlenecks to achieve better immunisation outcomes, including increased vaccination coverage and more equitable access to immunisation.
-
Monitor the performance of the HSS grant and be measured through intermediate results as well as immunisation outcomes.
-
Manages and coordinates effectively the disbursement and utilisation of grants by all fund recipients in order to strengthen the capacity of integrated health systems to deliver immunisation and ensure adherence to financial regulations and reporting.
-
Coordination of immunisation programmes and contribute to logistical and systems management capacity by ensuring that outreach clinics and supportive supervision are operational in target districts.
-
Facilitate updating of the plan for the implementation of the HSS, EAF and ITUF support to the
country
-
Undertakes effectively the design of the National EPI framework in order to guide the implementation of the HSS programme.
-
Undertakes timely the collection, analysis, reporting, and utilization of immunisation and other child health data in order to improve programme outcomes.
-
Undertakes regularly training of subnational levels and provision of technical support in order to impart requisite knowledge and skills on immunisation and other child health services.
-
Undertakes periodically performance assessments, reviews and evaluations of the immunisation programme in order to inform performance.
-
Undertakes effectively the development of work plans and implementation of the Annual
Performance Appraisal System in order to monitor and evaluate performance
-
Perform other functions assigned to him/her by the supervisor.
-
Ensures that resources from Gavi support are spent in accordance with the Partnership Framework Agreement
-
Collaborate effectively with the Gavi Assurance Service Provider
-
Manages and coordinates timely the procurement and supply of goods, services and works in
order to facilitate the implementation of programmes and activities.
-
Manages and coordinates timely the monitoring and evaluation of programme strategies in order to assess key performance indicators and facilitate informed decision making.
-
Manages and coordinates the development and implementation of tailored Social Behavioural
Change Communication (SBCC) and Information Education Communication (IEC) programmes in order to raise awareness and enhance community participation in immunisation and other child health programmes.
-
Manages and coordinates timely the identification and management of risks in order to curtail
and mitigate the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
-
Coordinate and consolidate programme reports according requirements and guidelines
-
Undertakes effectively the design of an M&E framework in order to guide the implementation of the HSS, EAF and ITUF.
QUALIFICATIONS
-
Full Grade 12 School Certificate with five O level credits including English and Mathematics
-
Bachelor’s Degree in any Health Science or its equivalent
-
Master’s Degree in Public Health or its equivalent is required
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
-
10 years of which 6 years should be at Senior Management Level;
-
Experience in Immunisation, Primary Health Care, Health Systems and Practice;
-
Experience of working in the area of monitoring and evaluation with a knowledge of the
government health programmes;
-
Experience with Project and Grant management;
-
High proficiency in working with Microsoft Office and computer applications;
-
Highly organised, flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and ability to work well under
pressure and deadlines;
-
Openness to working collaboratively with a diverse team;
-
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and able to work under minimal supervision;
-
Excellent analytical and numerical skills;
-
Good technical and analytical report writing, oral communication and interpersonal skills;
-
Strong ethics, with an ability to maintain confidentiality; and
-
Ability to communicate effectively in English
All interested persons meeting the above qualifications and experience should send their written applications to the undersigned with certified copies of their National Registration Card, academic and professional qualifications and a detailed Curriculum Vitae with three traceable references including their contact details.
Electronic applications will not be considered.
Applicants are advised to clearly indicate the positions they are applying for on the envelope.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 2nd February, 2024. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The Permanent Secretary- Administration
Ministry of Health
Ndeke House
P.O. Box 30205
LUSAKA
