Community Health and Surveillance Officer

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Additional Information

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future. This position will support implementation of the VITAL Project: "Vulnerability-based Integrated Timely Access to Lifesaving Services for the Refugee Crisis in Uganda," a DG ECHO-funded integrated humanitarian response focused on protection, epidemic preparedness and response (EPR), multi-purpose cash assistance, and community-based systems strengthening for refugee and host populations in Uganda. Job Overview The Community Health and Surveillance Officer will support implementation of integrated community health and epidemic preparedness interventions in locations as specified. The role will strengthen community-based surveillance, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), referral systems, and community health structures to improve timely identification and response to public health risks, disease outbreaks, and protection concerns among refugee and host populations. The position will work closely with Village Health Teams (VHTs), Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWs) where they exist, health facility teams, refugee community structures, district health authorities, and partner organizations to strengthen community-level systems for disease prevention, outbreak preparedness, early warning, screening, referrals, and access to lifesaving services. The Community Health and surveillance officer will ensure implementation aligns with Ministry of Health (MoH) guidelines, IRC technical standards, DG ECHO priorities, safeguarding principles, protection mainstreaming approaches, and integrated humanitarian programming models. Major Responsibilities Community Health and Epidemic Preparedness Implementation Support implementation of integrated community health and epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) activities across refugee and host communities in line with project work plans and technical guidance. Coordinate community-based disease surveillance, alert reporting, risk communication, screening, and referral activities in collaboration with health facilities, VHTs, CHEWs, Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), and district health authorities. Support timely identification, verification, documentation, and reporting of suspected epidemic-prone diseases and public health events in line with MoH and district surveillance protocols. Facilitate implementation of community-level outbreak prevention and response interventions, including household sensitization, RCCE campaigns, screening support, and referral follow-up. Support integrated outreach activities including immunization, maternal and child health, SRHR, nutrition, infection prevention and control (IPC), and health promotion services. Community Systems Strengthening Strengthen and coordinate community health structures including VHTs, CHEWs, refugee community volunteers, youth groups, and community networks to improve community engagement and service delivery. Build capacity of community structures through training, mentorship, supportive supervision, and routine performance monitoring on surveillance, referrals, RCCE, safeguarding, and protection mainstreaming. Support establishment and strengthening of sustainable community-to-facility referral pathways for health, protection, SRHR, GBV, child protection, mental health, and other lifesaving services. Facilitate community dialogues, awareness campaigns, and engagement sessions to promote early health-seeking behavior, disease prevention, outbreak preparedness, and social cohesion. Support implementation of inclusive and community-led approaches that prioritize participation of women, adolescents, persons with disabilities, older persons, and other vulnerable groups. Integrated Health and Protection Programming Collaborate closely with Protection, GBV, Child Protection, and SRHR teams to ensure safe identification and referral of vulnerable individuals requiring specialized services. Support dissemination of integrated health, protection, environmental health, and epidemic preparedness messaging through community structures and digital/community communication platforms. Promote safe, accountable, and protection-sensitive programming approaches during community activities and service delivery. Support implementation of protection mainst

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