PEDIATRICIAN

WHAT IS MSF ?

Médecins Sans Frontières/أطباء بلا حدود  بلا أطباء (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.
 

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project started in Sept. 2013 in Shatila, where MSF currently manages an outpatient center for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), vaccination services with transversely integrated mental health services and health promotion, and referrals for patients who require services beyond the scope of MSF activities. Additionally MSF opened a women’s health center with sexual and reproductive health care.
During 2018, low risk deliveries were relocated from Shatila to Rafik Hariri University Hospital compound, where MSF runs a Birth Centre. MSF took this as an opportunity to work together with external partners as catalyst for change around midwifery model of care and demedicalization of deliveries. The antenatal care services remains in the camps, to serve the most vulnerable women.
In Bourj el Barajneh camp, besides the above mentioned activities, MSF provides in addition home based care for those patients who are housebound or bedridden often due to an advanced NCD disease.
 

MSF BIRTH CENTER (BC)

The MSF Birth Center is unique in Lebanon, in its objective to develop a midwife led model of care. The midwives are responsible  for all of the deliveries and are only required to consult the obstetrician in case of complications. The model focuses on low risk pregnancies. There is an assesment room for all patients being followed in ANC, including the higher risk cases and they may attend at any time to be assessed. The most important role of the obstetrician is to manage any complicated cases either in BC or prior to referral to another hospital, and to be active in teaching, coaching and empowering of the midwives and nurses to help develop the midwife led model of care.

Here is a short video about the BC

MAIN RESPONSIBILITY

Providing outpatient and/or inpatient paediatric care to patients/beneficiaries according to adapted and up-dated medical knowledge, MSF protocols, values and universal hygiene standards to improve the new-born and child/beneficiaries health conditions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Applying medical knowledge and skills to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of children, ensuring integrated new-born and pediatric care through Emergency, OPD, and IPD services in New-born and cases of malnutrition. Prescribing the necessary treatment, respecting MSF protocols.
• Collaborating closely with the different department of the hospital (e.g. Maternity), Knowing and ensuring all updated MSF medical protocols and universal precautions are followed and implemented, reducing bio-hazard risks and improving infection control.
• As an expert in pediatrics, proposing strategy (modification on current new-born and pediatric care management) and implementing them after validation of Operation and Pediatric Advisor.
• Ensuring on-going new-born and pediatric training (formal and bedside) of the medical/paramedical multidisciplinary team in order to optimize the new-born and pediatric quality of care. Reviewing and discussing selected complicated cases or mistakes and giving technical input.
• Keeping patients and their families informed of the illness and the treatment to follow, checking that they have been understood. Ensuring professional autonomy and confidentiality are respected and a good attitude and proper bedside manner towards the patient and their care takers and the rest of the medical team.
• Following up the evolution of the hospitalized/IDP patients through daily visits, consultations and examinations, prescribing the necessary treatment following MSF protocols, deciding whether they can be discharged or transferred to other departments – in collaboration with other doctors- and informing their family about the patient’s evolution.
• Monitoring the proper functioning of the department, equipment or material and addresses the list of the missing item for new-born and pediatric activities. Providing inputs  about general organization of the different pediatric wards, including the admission, transfer and discharge criteria + referral procedure from Maternity and post-delivery wards
• Checking and controlling the rational distribution of medicines and equipment under his/her responsibility and taking care the quality, disinfection and sterilization of the medical material. Assuring general compliance with standing hygiene standards.
• Participating in the introduction / improvement of the collection and analysis of epidemiological new-born and pediatric data, checking its validity and informing the line manager or project coordinator about any problems or complications of the patient’s illness and medical errors. Collecting Clinical cases for further trainings and list a series of comments to improve the current MSF protocols
• Managing the team under his/her direct responsibility according to MSF HR policies and procedures, supervising their performance, organizing and scheduling shifts and rotations, directly participating in emergencies and on calls if necessary.
• Designing and providing training to staff as required.
• Debriefing with coordination, Headquarter (including Pediatric Advisor) and providing written report on main findings, activities, conclusions and further recommendations.
• Ensure the strict adherence to the lab investigation according to the MSF calendar.
• Manage clinic activities; ensure proper recording in the patient files.
• Provide timely and complete report about the medical management, as well as the referral outcome and figures.
• Respect and ensure infection prevention protocol adherence.
• Ensure good communication amongst the staff, patients and patient families

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Collaborates with the Midwife Supervisor to ensure quality essential care for newborns at the Family Center
• Performs routine newborn post-natal care visits (at 7 days, and 42 days) including a complete physical examination on newborns discharged from MSF Birth Center or other referral hospitals.
• es quality post-natal follow-up visits
• Performs follow-up visits for high-risk babies, according to the protocol implemented in the project.
• Supports the mother with exclusive breastfeeding and only use formula when indicated.
• Perform health education for the mother regarding newborn care in the home.
• Ensures access to family planning for the mother and linkage of the baby to the vaccination services at the PHC.
• Observe hygiene and aseptic technique in all procedures.
• Strengthens the skills and knowledge of the Family Center staff for: detection of newborn danger signs; proper treatment of complications arising in the first period of life and communication with the mother.
• Strengthens the capacity of midwives/nurses to perform quality resuscitation, focusing on effective bag and mask ventilation through regular training sessions planned in collaboration
• If needed, supports the PHC doctors to assess sick babies < 6 weeks in the PHC.
• Participates in the analysis of current activities (statistics, monthly reports) and assesses the need for additional protocols or adaptation of existing protocols to the specific context in the Family Center, and help ensure their implementation.
• Examine newborns needing referral to hospital and ensures the referral is appropriate and within the newborn referral criteria.
• Stabilizes ill newborns prior to referral and, if necessary, accompanies the newborn in the ambulance to hospital.
• Strengthens the competence of the Family Center staff to stabilize/provide emergency treatment for ill newborns prior to referral.      
• Helps oversee the documentation of medical records of newborns and referral forms. 
• Contacts the MWAM and/or the PMR if a referral does not meet the designated referral criteria.
• React and inform the Referral team in the clinic, for any important issues arising from the referrals.

Mobile phones are not permitted during patient consultations.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Medical Doctor diploma from a recognized university. Pediatrics qualification preferred.

Experience: 3 years experience minimum as a Medical Doctor in paediatric hospital

Language: Essential mission language (English); local working language would be an asset.

IT skills: Essential computer literacy (word, excel and internet)

Soft Skills: Results and Quality oriented,  Teamwork,  Flexibility,  Commitment,  Stress management