Sub-district Coordinator – Communicable Disease – Care India

CARE is a not-for-profit organisation working in India for over 70 years, focusing on alleviating poverty and social injustice. We do this through well-planned and comprehensive projects in health, education, livelihoods and disaster preparedness and response. Our overall goal is the empowerment of women and girls from poor and marginalised communities leading to improvement in their lives and livelihoods.

During FY 2020-21, CARE India directly reached out to 52.7 million people through 53 programmes across 18 states, covering more than 130+ districts. We are part of the CARE International Confederation, working in 100 countries for a world where people live with dignity and security.

CARE India seeks a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.

Our goal is to ensure that women and girls from the most marginalized communities are empowered, live in dignity and their households have secure and resilient lives. CARE India aims to accomplish this goal by working with 50 million people to help them have quality health, education, livelihoods and overcome the effects of disasters.

Our employees are committed to CARE’s values, Code of Conduct, and safeguarding commitments towards a safe workplace for all, including the principle of ‘do no harm’. They are also responsible to uphold and strengthen our safeguarding commitments in their role. To know more about our safeguarding policies please visit our website link given below.

Project Background:
Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are two serious public health problems on the Indian subcontinent, causing high morbidity and mortality. The governments in the region have launched elimination initiative for both these diseases. The Govt of India (GOI) goal is to eliminate LF and VL, i.e. Reduce annual incidence of the disease to less than threshold levels at the sub district (block) level.

CARE, through generous funding from BMGF, is providing strategic leadership and on-ground implementation support to the overall VL control activities in Bihar and Jharkhand in close partnership with respective departments of State Government and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP).

This is the third phase of the Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL, or kala azar) program, this phase grant aims to consolidate the work of strengthening systems to accelerate progress towards elimination and to support sustaining it thereafter, building on the current momentum in the program to aim for “elimination of VL as a public health problem”, reaching an annual incidence of below 1/10000 in all blocks by 2020 as presently defined.

With Generous support of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CARE’s is starting a project on elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. The two key strategies for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) are: Mass Drug Administration (MDA) and Morbidity Management & Disability Prevention (MMDP).

The strategic goal and primary outcome of the project is to support the Government of Bihar and Government of Jharkhand to attain sustainable elimination of LF in the two states. The project started in October 2021 and will continue till September 2024.

Required Experience 0 – 5 Years

Skill Minimum Qualification BA – BACHELOR OF ARTS

Position: Sub-district Coordinator – Communicable Disease

Grade/Level I

Project/Unit VL Project

Reports to: District Program Officer – communicable disease

Location: Multiple positions at any Block within Bihar & Jharkhand

Project Duration: October 2021 – September 2024

Job Summary
The Sub-district Coordinator is responsible for ensuring high quality operational support to the key activities of the disease control program of the government in the assigned Block. The key elimination program activities include Vector control, disease surveillance, Mass Drug Administration (MDA), Morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP), Line listing of cases. The nature of operational support to be provided includes capacity and skill building; generation, analysis and use of data in supervision and monitoring; generating and filing reports; participating in pilots and formative studies; supporting the organization of program reviews and communication campaigns. S/he work closely with the Block officials and staff to ensure this and maintain appropriate working relationships with staff of partner agencies involved in disease control program.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, support and ensure high coverage and quality of activities.
• Liaise with MOIC, BDO, VBDS, BHM, BCP to support VL & LF activities and provide techno-managerial support at block level
• Liaise with MOIC and share regular programmatic updates.
• Oversee adequate organization of patient services for at PHC/SDH/DH (Patient flow, diagnostics, drug supplies, incentives) and Coordinate with BHM, MOIC for above
• Work very closely with Medical Officer in Charge (MOIC) and Vector Borne Disease Supervisor (VBDS) and
• Block Community Mobilizer(BCM) to support NBS, MDA and Vector control, cases surveillance, MMDP activities
• Enhance the use of data for program management by health functionaries block level.
• Coordinate with VBDS, BCM & ASHA facilitator for Malaria Inspector – for micro planning, supervision plan, training of DA for MDA, Squad members and other health worker.
• Ensure adequate update and maintenance of line list of Kala azar, lymphedema and hydrocele cases.
• Facilitate in hydrocele operation camp.
• Work closely with health system to ensure post-surgical follow-up of all operated cases and management / treatment of all LF patients.
• Build capacity and strengthen knowledge base of FLW on an ongoing basis through training and mentorship
• Follow up and ensure availability of test kits, medicine and required logistic for VL & LF program.
• Supportive supervision during MDA & IRS program and data sharing for midcourse correction.
• Participate for different review platform and share field level issues.
• Tracking of SoE/UC and fund disbursement
• Ensure high levels of integrity in the discharge of all functions; particularly, ensure sound      control, full   compliance, best practice   and   effective      and   efficient management of all financial resources.
• Plan and ensure the smooth transition of all key activities.
• Involve local human resource (like Key Informants) for motivating the community people for VL, LF and other disease control program.
• Produce good quality documentation
• Support in other project activities as per requirement.

Qualification & Experience

Essential: Graduate in any discipline

Preferred: Experience in working with public health programs and dealing with government officials.

Skills & Competencies 

• Proven ability to identify problem areas, analyze, plan, innovate and execute ideas, as well as impart knowledge and skills
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize Government program staff
• Demonstrated ability and judgement to identify programmatic issues that require immediate attention, prioritize and take appropriate and timely action
• Ability to travel extensively to block and villages and gather first hand information from community
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Demonstrated learning agility, pro-activeness and openness to embrace new technologies at work
• Ability to function effectively as a team member and respect diversity in a team
• Excellent knowledge of local language (Hindi/Santhali)
• Accountability and Managing Performance