PROJECT MEDICAL REFERENT – NORTH DARFUR - SUDAN

ALIMA in SUDAN

ALIMA has been present in Sudan since 2021 with projects in South Kordofan and Khartoum states responding to urgent health and nutrition needs of populations affected by conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, ALIMA in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MOH) intervened in two localities in South Kordofan supporting Kadugli Teaching Hospital Maternity and Pediatric Units, two Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and mobile clinics, including rapid response mobile clinic for the influx of IDPs at Kadugli Bus Station IDP Camp.  ALIMA also strengthened capacity for optimal case management of severe COVID-19 cases by increasing access to medical oxygen at Al Shaab Teaching Hospital, a 350-bed specialist hospital designated as a COVID-19 Treatment Center in Khartoum.  ALIMA installed a PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) Oxygen Plant delivering medical oxygen directly to operating theaters and general wards.  Additionally, ALIMA conducted training with MOH staff on oxygen therapy for optimal case management and on preventive and curative maintenance of key biomedical equipment. 
Since the escalation of conflict in April 2023, ALIMA has been responding to the emergency health and nutrition needs in South Kordofan and in North Darfur.  In South Kordofan, ALIMA continues to support lifesaving healthcare at Kadugli Teaching Hospital, 3 PHCs, and mobile clinics.  In addition, ALIMA is implementing nutrition activities through outpatient therapeutic programs (OTPs) to treat severe acute malnutrition at all supported primary health facilities. In North Darfur state ALIMA has been providing emergency health  operations in Elfasher locality since February 2024.

The current context in El Fasher is ongoing war between the two main warring parties since April 2023 with SAF (national army) and RSF (paramilitary group) both fighting for ultimate control of the country. El Fasher is the only Darfur State not yet controlled by RSF. North Darfur has a different ethnic profile from the other Darfur states which makes it more difficult for RSF to seize control.
The eastern and northern parts of El Fasher city are controlled by RSF. SAF frequently attacks these parts of the city with airstrikes. These areas are no go zones for ALIMA and other INGOs present in the area. Some criminality is observed in local markets but to date, INGOs are not targeted.
Arrival in El Fasher is through cross-border movements from Chad by road through the Tina or Adre border, with an established movement protocol.
ALIMA is planning to scale up its program to Zamzam IDPs camp near El Fasher and Tawilah, North Darfur.
Zamzam IDPs camp located 25km away from El Fasher was established in August 2004 in response to the influx of displaced persons from other locations in the state, particularly Dar Alsalam, El Fasher, and Jebel Mara localities. The camp expanded in 2009 due to an influx of IDPs from Muhajeria, Labado and Shieria of East Darfur. Zamzam IDPs continues to expand because it is the only camp open for new IDPs in the El Fasher area. 
Tawila Town is located in North Darfur, about 60 km from the state capital, El Fasher. The conflict has severely destabilized northern Darfur, leading to widespread displacement and disruption. 
As of 23 September 2023, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (al-Nur) has taken control of the town. Tawila serves as the gateway to Central Darfur and is on the route to Chad and continues to host a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees who have returned to their areas of origin. 

PROTECTION OF BENEFICIARIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS 
Level 3: As part of his/her duties, the incumbent will visit programs and come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. Therefore, a criminal record check or a certificate of good character will be required. In situations where a criminal record or character reference is not available, a statement of good character will be required.  

POST TYPOLOGY

Work Location: 

• Mission location: Combination of on-site management in Tawilah, North Darfur Sudan and remote management in Ndjamena, Chad

• Project: Improvement of access to basic nutrition and healthcare services for crisis affected displaced and host communities North Darfur.

Line Manager: 

• Your direct line manager is the Project Coordinator

• You will manage the medical team (MAM and medical supervisors)
  
  

Functional Manager:

• Medical Coordinator

MISSION AND MAIN ACTIVITIES

MEDICAL ACTIVITIES
The Medical Referent is responsible for effectively implementing overall medical activities supported by ALIMA in North Darfur namely Tawilah, Zamzam IDP camp and El Fasher. In close collaboration with the Project Coordinator, the Medical Coordinator, and the Mission Coordination team, the Medical Referent will regularly define and plan the medical objectives and priorities of the project. The position also involves developing relationships with stakeholders in the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) in Western Darfur, North Darfur and the local administration of Tawilah, to ensure a conducive environment necessary for efficient implementation of the project activities, and ensuring the health and humanitarian needs of the targeted population are met. The Medical Referent will provide leadership to the medical team to ensure that care provided to beneficiaries is of high quality and offered in accordance with the context, ALIMA protocols, Sudanese national guidelines, and universal hygiene standards. 
Specifically, they will:

• In collaboration with the Project Coordinator, analyze the medical context of the project area and suggest areas of intervention in line with ALIMA country policy and strategies.

• Organize and manage the implementation of medical activities by the proposals and ALIMA and Sudan national protocols.

• Coordinate all medical activities to ensure smooth patient flow across the various disciplines, and that individual efforts contribute to the overall project goal.

• Ensure consistent adherence to the screening and diagnostic processes, and rational use of diagnostic tests and pharmaceuticals.

• Coordinate referrals and counter-referrals of patients to higher level patient for care.

• Monitor and supervise the management of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and equipment in all ALIMA supported health facilities in North Darfur; focusing on nutrition supplies and drugs consumption tracking, inventory and reporting. Conduct training in collaboration with the Pharmacy Supervisor for any knowledge gap identified.

• Carry out regular assessment to identify needs in medical supplies and contribute to national and international medical orders.

• Overall responsible for the management of the project medical data including indicator tracker table, ensure quality data collection at all sites, and ensuring data collection tools are updated and available at all levels.

• Ensure all ALIMA supported Health Facilities are regularly provided with relevant tools (registers and recording forms) from the State Ministry of Health (SMOH).

• Ensure proper maintenance of medical records.

• Contribute to the donor, UN agencies and MoH reporting.

• Participate on a monthly basis at the local Health Cluster Meeting at the SMOH and conduct regular medical meetings with ALIMA medical staff and health volunteers based at Tawilah.

• Ensure epidemiological surveillance analysis.

• Ensure that medical confidentiality is respected across ALIMA supported healthcare facilities, and that all patients are duly informed of their illnesses and treatments.

• Provide support to the SMOH in area of death audit, including analysis and reporting especially child and maternal death in the supported healthcare facilities.

• Ensure and promote guaranteed respect and dignity of patients, their families and all employees across ALIMA supported healthcare facilities.

• Participate in ALIMA Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) training, and actively be part of the response team (where necessary) in the event of crisis (outbreaks and displacement).

MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL STAFF

• Analyze staff needs based on increased workload and/or knowledge/skill gaps, propose the position(s) required in relation to the activity and define the profile(s) of these position(s).

• Organize and facilitate regular team meetings on a regular basis.

• Coordinate channel of communication and the flow of information among the medical team members.

• Participates in the administrative management of the medical team (absence/leave/replacements, etc.).

• Ensure that all ALIMA medical staff in Elfasher are provided with performance objectives that match to the project objectives, and ensure the health worker volunteers or government seconded are evaluated periodically.

• Contribute to the performance and skills assessment of the staff.

• In collaboration with the other senior medical staff, analyze knowledge/skill gaps of the staff, define the needed training in line with the project objectives. 

• Participate in the training, mentorships and coaching of medical team members.

• Responsible for project staff health, clearly interprets and implements the ALIMA staff health policy in the project.

REPORTING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES

• Participate in the sharing of information within the team.

• Collect information on the medical operation and report it to the Medical Coordinator and Project Coordinator to contribute to ALIMA field sitrep on a weekly basis.

• Ensures the appropriate feedback is provided to staff on statistical data.

• Document cases of malfunctions/abnormalities observed, and good practices for analysis and capitalization purposes.

Implementation of preventive measures against abuse of power, gender-based and sexual violence.

• Ensure that his/her team, partners (Ministry of Health) and community health worker volunteers and community members are aware of ALIMA's PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) policy and have access to information (complaint escalation mechanism, and focal point).

• Facilitate and participate in PSEA training and awareness raising sessions for his/her team.

• Apply standards relating to abuse prevention.

• Ensure that team members and partners involved in the project (local community administration, Ministry of Health, and national partners, etc.) attend training and awareness sessions and apply the abuse prevention rules.

• Contribute to creating and maintaining a nurturing and protective environment for his/her team, community members and partners involved in the project.

• Expertise
• Countries of intervention
• Space donator
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