Position: Drug Safety Surveillance Officer

Location: Kiruddu National Referral Hospital (1 Position) Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (1 Position)

Duration: One Year, renewable based on availability of funds and satisfactory performance

Reporting: To the programs National Pharmacovigilance Coordinator in Ministry of Health

Term: The position is open to Ugandan nationals only and will involve minimal travel

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Background

Akros Research is supporting a 3-year program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation and in partnership with the Africa CDC, to increase Covid19 vaccine uptake in Africa. This initiative, called Saving Lives and Livelihoods, includes multiple components and partners working to procure, distribute, and promote vaccine uptake in a safe manner. As a part of this consortium Akros Research will support Africa Union member states in the Eastern and Southern African regions to strengthen COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance systems.

The Drug Safety Surveillance Officer will implement innovation intended to strengthen the capacity to monitor and report actively adverse events following immunization with COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring a successful implementation of the SLL programme’s COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance. The Officer will work with the Ministry of Health, National Drug Authority and the assigned Regional Referral Hospital, and stakeholders to promote a safe vaccine uptake and strengthen the COVID-19 response.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Proactively engage in COVID-19 vaccination activities and implement innovative approaches to screen, detect, assess, actively follow up with phone calls of individuals that receive COVID-19 vaccines for any suspected adverse drug events

2. Receive calls through the toll-free portal and log them into appropriate adverse event reporting forms 3. Monitor and coordinate data entry of any suspected adverse events from COVID-19 vaccination received, into the national electronic databases
4. Analyze and interpret clients drug safety concerns and provide professional guidance as may be appropriate
5. Follow up safety concerns and make appropriate referrals and linkages to clinical care
6. Communicate effectively on Saving Lives and Livelihoods through proactive monitoring and reporting of adverse events following immunization
7. Prepare and share weekly status updates, monthly, quarterly, semiannual and annual reports on status and activity implementation
8. Any other duties that may be assigned

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or MBChB preferred or any relevant fi eld in medicine
• 2-5 years of progressive experience working with program management
• Strong experience working with Government’s Ministries of Health, regulatory authority, donors, and sub-national structures and managing emergency responses
• Previous experience with project and organizational representation to the Ministry of Health at national or subnational levels is an added advantage.
• Previous experience with pharmacovigilance activities is an added advantage.

Skills
• Strong track record in managing activities to strengthen implementation studies with limited resources • Good written and oral communication skills
• The ability to promote active drug safety surveillance and reporting
• Broad public health understanding of COVID-19 vaccine active safety surveillance
• Demonstrated appreciation of the issues associated with developing individual excellence, capacity and leadership in implementation studies in developing countries
• Excellent technical writing, quantitative and critical thinking skills
• Excellent computer skills with fluency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Excellent interpersonal skills, organizational skills and ability to work independently and flexibly

Competencies
• Teamwork
• Producing results
• Integrity
• Innovation

Application Instructions
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV with references to careers@akros.com with “Application: Drug Safety Surveillance Officer” as the email’s subject line. Please specify your preferred location. Closing date for receiving applications is 12th October 2022.

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