Ubah Farah Ahmed

The Advocacy Specialist for Immunization and Polio Eradication to plays a pivotal role in public health initiatives aimed at eradicating polio and improving immunization coverage rates

Key responsibilities:

1. Strategic Communication: Develop and implement communication strategies to raise awareness about the importance of immunization and the goal of polio eradication. This includes creating informative materials, organizing campaigns, and engaging with the media to disseminate key messages.

2. Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international bodies like WHO, Civil society, health Professionals, Academia and community leaders to build strong networks and partnerships. This collaboration helps mobilize resources and support for immunization programs.

3. Community Outreach Work closely with local communities to address concerns, dispel myths, and encourage vaccinations. This involves training and supporting local health workers and volunteers to communicate with families effectively.

4. Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies that support immunization and polio eradication efforts. This includes lobbying for funding, influencing public health policies, and ensuring immunization programs are prioritized in health agendas.

• Ensure technical excellence and quality of RMNCAH project activities across the continuum of care, from home to hospital, with a focus on facility levels
• Develop/review evidence-based clinical training materials, performance standards, and supervisory systems needed for program implementation
• Provide and coordinate assessments, training, education, site strengthening, follow-up and supervision, advocacy, demand creation, policy support, capacity-building, and M&E across program sites as program activities require
• Use knowledge of best practices in RMNCAH to build the capacity of the MOH
• Ensure integration across technical areas and with cross-cutting approaches such as gender, equity, and rights-based approaches to health
• Work closely with the Department director and other key staff to provide technical insight, contribute to work planning and project reporting, and oversee implementation activities.

• Ensure that a human rights-based approach is integrated into health policies, programs, and practices
• Ensure that healthcare services are delivered fairly and uphold the principles of human dignity, non-discrimination, and inclusivity
• Work closely with relevant stakeholders to incorporate human rights principles into health policies, strategies, and guidelines
• Ensure the effective implementation of human rights-based health policies across all levels of the ministry.

• Update the reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) policy survey conducted in 2018-2019 in all region countries
• The RMNCAH policy survey focuses on fundamental laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and strategies in all areas and countries
• The survey provides a mechanism for regular reporting against indicators outlined in the Global Strategy and offers a platform to monitor progress toward achieving its objectives.

• Leads and cooperates with developing and implementing the strategic directions of the Ministry of Health
• Leads the design, development, and implementation of the national strategy and plans on the Reproductive, Newborn, Child Health, Immunization, and Nutrition (RMNCH) Plan and Budget
• Provides evidence and guidance on the national RMNCH priorities for health sector development in collaboration with federal and federal member states counterparts and our strategic development partners
• Establishes policies and strategies for strengthening the Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services and interfaces with other health programs to facilitate implementation of the integrated Essential Package of Health Services (EPHS) approach
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation of annual operational plans to ensure the delivery of essential health services across all levels of the Somali healthcare system.

• Assess the national laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Somalia
• Collaborate closely with the international consultant to update the policy survey and disseminate the findings and recommendations to all stakeholders.

• Improve the management and performance of the Pediatric department of Banadir Hospital and establish a Newborn care Unit in the department
• Conduct on-the-job training and provide supportive supervision to the hospital staff
• Collaborate with MoH, Banadir Hospital, and the IOM-MIDA team to identify priorities and medium-term needs that can be addressed with the help of MoH and MIDA FINNSOM
• Engage technical support and guidelines on appropriate strategies and institutional capacity building
• Plan strategic technical leadership and expertise for Banadir Hospital in implementing high-quality child health services
• Build and develop tools or adapt approaches to ensure Child Health services' efficiency, acceptability, and impact at the hospital, community, and patient levels
• Review, design, and prepare training manuals for the Pediatric department staff.

• Diagnosing and treating illnesses, medical conditions, and injuries
• Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic tests
• Collecting, recording, and maintaining patients' information and histories
• Prescribing and administering treatments, therapies, medications, vaccinations, and other specialized medical care
• Explaining procedures and discussing test results or prescribed treatments with patients and family members
• Monitoring patients' conditions and progress
• Directing, coordinating, consulting with, and referring patients to nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff
• Advising patients, parents, and guardians on diets, activities, hygiene, and disease prevention.

• Assessing patients admitted to the emergency room immediately and overseeing emergency recovery
• Conducting follow-up visits to monitor the patient's condition
• Requesting the appropriate medical tests, guiding and following the treatment plan
• Developing effective patient care plans
• Referring to appropriate specialists when needed
• Ensuring patients are stable before transferring them to the proper department for further evaluation
• Providing instructions for discharge and any relevant paperwork
• Maintaining patients' medical records
• Coordinating with different ER departments to ensure patients receive the necessary treatment.

• Providing preventative care, including the recommendation of vaccines
• Recording and maintaining health and patient information
• Effectively communicating the patient's health, nutritional, and wellness needs to their guardians
• Diagnosing and treating common childhood ailments and minor injuries
• Recommending patients for further treatments and to specialists when needed.

• Provide ongoing clinical care of patients, including appropriate assessment and management
• Communicate culturally appropriately and empathetically with patients and their families
• Pay particular attention to unwell children and babies with frequent reviews and organize management as appropriate, including referral for retrieval or PICU and ensuring that relevant documentation is in the medical record
• Train, coach, and supervise new staff members.