Health Promotion & Community Engagement Officer

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / أطباء بلا حدود  is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people in 70 countries who are affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. MSF offers assistance to people based on need, irrespective of race, religion, gender or political affiliation and our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality.

We offer basic healthcare, perform surgery, fight epidemics, rehabilitate and run hospitals and clinics, carry out vaccination campaigns, operate nutrition centers, and provide mental healthcare. Our activities include the treatment of injuries and disease, maternal care and the provision of humanitarian aid. Where necessary, we set up sanitation systems, supply safe drinking water, and distribute relief to assist survival.

Main Objective of the position:

Health promotion and community engagement activities with patients and local population to raise their knowledge and skills on relevant medical topics.

Accountabilities:

• Inform patients and communities about MSF and services it provides.
• According to medical priorities, deliver information to the patients and community on specific health topics.
• Implement activities of health education and awareness (sessions in schools, churches), under the indications and supervision of the HPCE Supervisor.
• Under the guide of HPCE Supervisor, assess the impact of activities (with questions, verifications and behaviour observations), and report problems, success and constraints to him/her.
• Collect all type of information related to specific health and living conditions of the population, in particular to identify the most vulnerable populations to target.
• Report to HPCE Supervisor: activities, problems met, strengths and constraints.
• Establish and maintain contacts with social partners, including other NGO’s, governmental health services that can provide answers to social problems.
• Keep education and communication areas clean and tidy and professional materials available.
• Participate in creation of any material needed for the activities of information, education and communication.

MSF Context Specific Accountabilities:

The Beirut Project has two main clinical locations, and the HPCE officer will work in any of the two locations and/ other locations assigned by HPCE supervisor/HPCE Manager to facilitate project strategy. This includes supporting the integration of health education and community engagement activities within MSF supported primary health care centers and their respective catchment areas.

BB Clinic in Bourj Barajneh Refugee Camp – Vaccination service for 0-18 years, non communicable (NCD) disease service, Family planning service, Mental Health and Psychosocial support (MHPSS) and Health promotion and community engagement (HPCE) services

Bourj Hammoud Clinic- General Consultation services, NCD, Family Planning, MHPSS and HPCE services

Activities at clinic level: (Bourj Hammoud & Bourj Al Barajneh Camp)

• Provide health education sessions to patients at MSF clinics based on patient medical needs & interest.
• Facilitate training sessions for CHEs/project staff on relevant health topics.
• Attend relevant meetings (Multi-discliplinary Team Meetings) with other departments when requested by the HPCE supervisor.
• Develop health education material  (i.e. flyers, brochures, presentations etc), needed for HPCE activities with the support of MSF communication department.

Community engagement activities

• Conduct community mapping activities, including building links with existing local NGOs, CBOs and other community structures; leaders, and active key members.
• Report to HPCE Supervisor on requests from community for awareness sessions, training sessions etc
• Through the support of key community leaders and other CBOs, conduct regular community based activities such as awareness sessions and events on weekdays and weekends to community members from all nationalities.
• Promote for MSF services among clinic patients and community members through outreach activities and digital communication channels.
• Conduct qualitative assessments ((i.e. Patient experience assessments, FGDs) among MSF patients and community beneficiaries to understand and identify community needs, and overall patient satisfaction.
• Actively participate in mobile clinic activities with the medical team of nurses and Drs, through provision of tailored health education messages to attending patients.
• Participate in community based outbreak response activities, including surveillance activities and preventive health education messages.

MSF supported Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) activities:

• Support the HPCE supervisor in training integrated PHCC staff on diverse health messages and topics that align with the MSF PHCC medical strategy, incorporating coaching and mentoring.
• Improve and create active communication between community leaders and PHCC staff.
• Collect data on the quality of work and reach achieved by each HP staff in MSF supported PHCCs.
• Report on challenges faced by Health Promotion PHCC staff, and identify any informational needs and opportunities for further trainings and capacity building.
• Monitor the work done by contracted HP PHCC staff through routine filling of monitoring tool, and submit to line manager (HPCE Supervisor) for further analysis and intervention.

Transversal

• Participtate in providing a patient centered approach within all of the MSF actvities.
• Demonstratre flexibility on tasks requested & working hours according to the Project needs ( Regular or occasional evening or weekend activities).
• Participate in collecting needed data for monthly medical reports and submit reports to line manager.
• Ensure respect & implementation of humanitarian principles and work ethics during work with vulnerable communities and with all staff/work colleagues.
• Report challenges related to activities, work dynamics to line manager on a daily basis, and per need.
• Perform other HPCE related activities as indicated by HPCE Supervisor/Manager and as per project needs.

Requirements:

Education:

B.S. in social sciences, social communication, or health promotion. And/ or licensed degree in nursing or any relevant paramedical degree.

Experience:

Essential : 2 years of previous experience in nursing, health promotion or community mobilization.

Essential experience working with vulnerable communities, and/or informal settlement, Palestinian camps.

Desirable: previous experience with migrant worker communities.

Desirable: previous experience in MSF, NGO or health care facility.

Languages:

Arabic & English languages are essential.

Knowledge

Computer literacy: Microsoft Office, Excel, Power Point.

Competencies

Results, Teamwork, Flexibility, Commitment, Service & Stress Management.