Recrutement  SUDAN (Malakal) - Medical Coordinator

SOUTH SUDAN (Malakal) Medical Coordinator

Référence MDM-SUD-MALAKAL-COM

A 23 years civil war that opposed South Sudan to Khartoum authorities provoked the displacement of people within the country (mostly around Khartoum) as well as outside in neighbouring countries. According to some estimates the number of displaced people was around 3.800.000. The political, administrative, education and sanitation infrastructure of these zones was completely destroyed and is not able to respond to the returnee process, and to their reintegration. Besides that, these regions also suffered because of many dry seasons and the general abandonment of communities.

Tensions exist in several States of Jonglei and Upper Nile, especially in between the pro governmental militia and pro Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) militia, due to the implementation of the Comprehension Peace Agreement. They show well this unstable situation that prevents any regular return. They could provoke more movements toward Malakal or other bigger and safer towns, and they could also influence and slow down the return process.

The Upper Nile is torn between tribal and geographic connections with South Sudan in one side and with the big Northern government influence on the other side. This holds due to road/river logistic much developed toward the north, its position as an old front line and the presence of petrol resources. So, one border is expected in the future between two states South and North. Malakal is 950 Km far from Khartoum and is the capital of the Upper Nile region. The population of Malakal is estimated at 150 000 people (into town) and 150 000 around.

The entire return process has been slowed down in late November 2006 due to fighting in Malakal city and surroundings between armed elements close to Sudan Armed Forces (SAF, governmental forces), and Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). In Malakal the situation returned slowly but surely back to normal and no incident has been reported since end of December. A positive point in this whole story is that at no time, INGO’s nor UN agencies have been the target of the attacks and no compounds have been looted during the troubles.

Over the last two months (February and March 2007), the process of moving SAF troops and militias went surprisingly well. No major incidents have been reported. Most of the big militias have been brought to the designated assembly points (Malakal is one) to be integrated in SPLA or SAF. Some militias have defected to SPLA now that SAF is retreating to the north.

In and around Malakal, the situation has been stabilized and is back to normal. The militia troops that have been moved to Malakal are undergoing training by SAF (to be integrated afterwards), the SAF battalion that was protecting the airport has moved to Kosti (north of Malakal) and SPLA troops in Kaldak (South West of Malakal) have moved further away from the civilian population. Economic life has picked up its normal speed again, the market is open, barges are arriving regularly and even transport by road all the way to Khartoum is functioning. The population that had fled the town during the fighting has come back and is moving freely in town. A lot of IDP’s and refugees are returning to Malakal these days. It is sure that the population of Malakal is growing seriously.

In the villages around Malakal, the situation has improved a lot now that the militias are gone and a lot of people are returning to the villages. No incidents were reported in all the visited places; even during the fighting in Malakal these villages (except from Phom El Zeraf) had no problems. The only incidents reported during these last weeks in the great upper Nile area are mainly isolated banditry actions or cattle raidings. Although isolated incidents between few soldiers happened every so often but with no major impacts on MDM activities.

After three evaluation missions in Malakal (October 2003/April 2004/July 2005), MDM undertook the rehabilitation of the surgery unit of Malakal Teaching Hospital and conducted training with the staff: this project ran from July 2005 to April 2006.

Since June 2006, MDM set up a primary health care project using a mobile clinic along the Nile river in 5 different villages (Jonglei State and Upper Nile State).

Main original Malakal programme objectives (Planned Programme Duration is 2 years):

- To provide Primary Health Care and to improve the health situation of the local population and displaced persons in the Greater Upper Nile region of south Sudan.

- To reduce the morbidity and mortality rates by re-establishing access to health care for the Greater Upper Nile population, including returnees and those in transit, by providing primary health care and implementing mobile clinic.

End November 2006, MDM pulled out of Malakal and South-Sudan because of security problems and the program was put on stand-by up to March 2007. In March, a medical and security assessment had been conducted to determine a possible resumption of the activities according to the needs and to security context.

The rationale of the mission is now to re-establish primary health care services in some affected and remote areas for vulnerable populations of Upper Nile region, in and near Malakal. Since September 2007, the MDM team has a weekly presence in Tonga, where we are about to finish the construction of the clinic. Medical activities are running well.

The program starts at 1st June 2007. According to the needs, gaps, MdM capacities and MoH policy, 3 axes have been identified:

- Support to 1 health facilities (Primary Health Care Center, PHCC) in Tonga (Panyakan County, Upper Nile)

- Support to EPI activities in Phom El Zeraf (Fangak County, Jonglei)

- Support to Malakal Teaching Hospital through finalization of the rehabilitation program of the operating theater including water and energy supplies. (This section of the programme will be complete by May 2008)

- Response to any outbreak in Panyakan and Fangak counties

The project should run until end 2008; Project design and research for funds are under process.

The medical coordinator is in charge of the implementation, follow up and supervision of the different medical activities in Upper Nile and Jongleï states. His duties are:

- Programm Management

- Coordination with UN agencies, NGOs, local medical authorities and local authorities (community)

- Management of the medical expatriate team

- Management of medical stock and logistic chain for medical purchase

- Relationship with the Emergency desk and RM

He’s under direct responsibility of the Country coordinator for institutional links and security. The follow up of the program will be in link with the Emergency desk and the mission responsible (RM). On the field, the functional link is with the Site Coordinator.

The national team in Malakal is composed by 1 administrator assistant, 2 logistics assistant, 1 translator, 1 driver, 2 skipper;, 1 cook, 2 cleaners and 10 watchmen. The expatriate team is composed by 1 Administrator, 1 Site coordinator, 1 Medical Coordinator, 1 Logistician in Malakal & another in Tonga, 1 Medical Doctor & 1 Midwife.

Departure: 01/06/2008

Duration: 6 months

Status: volunteer (possibility salaried status)

Monthly Allowance: 915 Euros + Daily subsistence (for volunteer)

Profile:

- Doctor, Nurse or Midwife

- Knowledge of public health issues

- Experience in outbreak management and emergency response and in hard negotiations with local authorities, partners and staff in a tricky context

- Capacity to work in an volatile security context and able to apply strict security rules, to create relationships with the communities

- Ability to manage a team and work in an international team, to have a global overview of a program (not only on medical plan)

- Ability to listen, to take quick decisions according to the context in coordination with the team

- English (good level speaking, writing + French and Arabic would be assets)

- Diplomatic, reactivity, anticipation, adaptability, capacity to take initiatives

- Organizational, good writing and communication skills

- Fair knowledge of Windows environment (Word, Excel)

- Ability to manage priorities

- Team spirit, interest for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law

- Preparedness to travel by boat on Nile

- Capacity to work and to live in tense conditions (climate, cultural context, promiscuity, isolation)