Polio Surveillance and SIA Field Associate (SSA)

Job Description for Polio Surveillance and SIA Field Associate

Contract Type: SSA
Grade: G7
Location:  Luanda (2), Lunda Sul (1), Lunda Norte (1), Huila (2), Huambo (1) ,Cuanza Sul (1), Bié (1)  and Cunene (1)

Background

Following the notification of new cases of circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Angola and considering that two national vaccination rounds were conducted in 2025, the Polio Rapid Response Team (RRT) recommended the implementation of two additional rounds using nOPV2. This recommendation was endorsed by the Ministry of Health of Angola, which recognized the urgent need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and the quality of Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs).

Despite ongoing efforts, several provinces continue to report suboptimal surveillance performance indicators, increasing the risk of delayed detection and silent transmission of poliovirus. In addition, operational challenges persist in the planning and implementation of SIAs, particularly in high-risk and previously underperforming areas.

Purpose of the Position

To provide technical assistance for polio outbreak activities in high risk densely populated areas, border provinces and other low performing provinces of Angola. The main trust of their support is to intensify AFP surveillance and supplemental polio vaccination campaigns to improve the quality of planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring. Priority will be specifically to support these activities at the Municipal/District level.

Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate Strategic Objectives

To close immunity and surveillance gaps in poor performing districts/municipalities to achieve quality polio campaigns at acceptable levels based on independent Monitoring/LQAS and maintain the core surveillance at certification levels respectively.

Organizational Context

Support districts/municipalities efforts towards the interruption of polio viruses polio eradication and EPI disease control through collaboration with staff in the Provincial and District/Municipal Health Departments, as listed in the assigned duties.

Summary of Assigned Duties

1.     Support accelerated activities to boost Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) Surveillance, including training and orientation of district/municipal staff, implementation of facility-based active surveillance for AFP using online tools such as e-Surv, ISS for all sites visited, conduct clinical and community sensitizations on surveillance, case investigation and follow-up of AFP cases.

2.     Collaborate in micro-planning and implementation of mopping-up immunization activities, using house-to-house vaccine delivery, to eliminate the final chains of transmission of cVDPV2.

3.     Participate in activities at Municipal/District level to improve the quality of supplementary immunization activities, including the identification and immunization of children never before immunized ('zero dose') and ensuring the highest possible coverage of all target children during all supplementary immunization campaigns.

4.     Conduct supervisory visits to immunization team members in assigned priority areas as identified by the WHO office and national authorities and use the online SIA supervisory and monitoring.

5.     Prepare report and conduct exit debriefing to district and provincial officers.

6.     Perform other duties, as may be requested by the supervisor.

Educational Qualifications

• Essential: - Completion of secondary school education with a training in health sciences/public health such as Doctors, Nurses, medical laboratories, environmental sanitation or in a discipline related to emergency and disaster management from a recognized institution.

• Desirable: - Training in surveillance and immunization would be an asset.

Experience

• Essential: - 10 years of relevant experience in surveillance of notifiable diseases and or immunization service delivery at district, provincial or national level. Experience in the response of an outbreak of polio or other vaccine preventable diseases such measles, yellow fever and other health emergencies would be an asset. Field experience in public health case based surveillance and immunization response activities at sub-national level would be an asset

• Desirable: - Experience with an asset in WHO or another UN agency.

General

• Computer skills

o   Obligatory: MS word, Excel, Power point,

o   Added advantages: Analytics such as ODK based tools.

• Language (Speak and write)

o   Portuguese is essential

o   French is an added advantage

 Please note that recruitment can start before end of publication due to emergency situations.