Community Health Educator

Introduction about MSF:

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) 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:  Community Health Educators (CHE) will prepare, provide, and present health education sessions to the population/patients according to MSF principles and values to promote improved health seeking practices, and provide information on MSF services to facilitate access to healthcare in project catchment area incl. Bourj Barajneh camp, Bourj Hammoud and various other areas.

Accountabilities:

Heath Education & Community Engagement

• Prepare material and deliver health education sessions, messages and topics addressed to different populations regarding hygiene, diseases, and prevention.
• Ensure all the patients and caretakers are well informed, according to protocols, about health-related issues and services provided.
• Monitor health situation and living conditions of the population by conducting nutritional screening, collecting information related to food security, checking vaccination status of children, looking actively for any defaulters in programs that require this type of research, collecting information on number of people arriving or leaving the community, births and deaths in the community, etc.
• Identify people with medical problems, contact with medical team and report for immediate transfer if needed. He/she has to inform to the line manager about any problem encountered (population, equipment, material…).

Report to line manager of all results of screening and visits on a regular basis.

MSF Context Specific Accountabilities:

• Participate in the implementation of the HP departmental strategy under the supervision of the HP supervisor / Manager.
• Support in the mapping of community based organizations (CBOs) and community gathering spots inside Palestinian camps and outside.
• Actively participate in creating links between MSF and project target communities and stakeholders (CBOs, NGOs etc) to promote awareness and access to MSF services.
• Participate in the planning, organization and implementation of community engagement activities for different communities, including meetings, health education sessions and focus group discussions.
• Conduct field outreach activities in project catchment area and promote for MSF services.
• Develop health education (guides, flipcharts etc) and promotion material (flyers, brochure etc) covering different health topics, and MSF services.
• Participate, with the HP supervisor, in the planning and facilitation of capacity building sessions for  other MSF staff on different health topics.
• Conduct feedback assessments (surveys, FGDs) with patients in MSF clinics and with community members for improved understanding on health seeking practices, and identification of relevant hp topics, and community needs.
• Attend and participate in interdisciplinary meetings by summarizing findings from the field and sharing of experiences, knowledge and debriefings with other medical staff.
• Ensure the daily encoding & documentation of HP activities on MSF data collection systems.
• Perform assigned additional responsibilities or tasks as required by the health promotion supervisor/Manager.

Requirements:

Education:

Essential: Literacy

Desirable: University Degree in a medical or social field (health sciences, nursing, public health, social sciences etc).

Experience:

Desirable: Previous NGO experience, experience working within Palestinian camps (Bourj Al Ba-rajneh and Shatila camps) or other refugee context in Beirut.

Languages:

Essential: Arabic (native in speaking and writing, English (good in speaking and writing)

Knowledge:

Competencies: 

Desirable: Basic computer skills (power point; excel, word)

Commitment to MSF’s Principles |  Behavioural Flexibility | Stress Management | Results and Quality Orientation | Service Orientation | Teamwork and Cooperation