Country: Papua New Guinea
Closing date: 29 Feb 2016
About VSO
VSO is the world’s leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.
Role overview
A country’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is one of the best public health indicators to address the total functionality of a health care system. PNG has one of the highest MMR in the world and even though there is inconsistent data, it is estimated, that the MMR is 545 per 10.000 live births. Although life expectancy at birth continues to rise in the PNG, the number of neonatal deaths remains very high, especially in rural areas. Figures show that if born in rural areas infants are twice as likely to die before their first birthday than those born in town. Strategies known to address the high MMR and neonatal deaths include neonatal consultations and increasing the number of supervised births.
In Tari provincial hospital, Hela province, emergency deliveries and caesarean sections are carried out on a daily base. To ensure accessibility of emergency obstetric care and availability of quality services, we are looking for an Obstetrician Gynaecologist to “support strong, inclusive and accessible health services through building capacity in Tari hospital in addressing key priority areas”.
As the Obstetrician Gynaecologist in Tari hospital you will:
- Train local staff in the provision of comprehensive emergency obstetric care
- Supervise and support the antenatal clinics
- Provide on-the-job training to the hospital staff
- Deliver obstetrics services
- Provide consultations to patients in the gynaecology and obstetrics unit
- Mentor and supervise students during their practical training
- Implement national and international guidelines where needed
- Assess gynaecological elective cases for surgical intervention
- Perform caesarean sections and emergency deliveries as needed
- Support women in rural areas who do not have access to adequate pre and post natal care
- Engage in the routine care and management of patients in the hospital
Skills, qualifications and experience required
- You have successfully completed a residency programme and at least two years post-registration/graduation experience in obstetrics and gynaecology
- You are fully accredited
- You have the ability to work with limited technical resources
- You have experience in training, coaching and supervision
- You have work or travel experience in developing countries
- You are able to cope with stress and to organise and prioritise workload
Additional requirements - Fluent English proficiency
- IT skills (Word, PowerPoint and Excel)
If you are looking for a placement in which you can directly contribute to an improved health status of women and children, and you fit the below profile, do not hesitate to apply.
How to apply:
If you're interested in applying for this role, please follow this link (http://www.vsointernational.org/volunteer/vacancies?jobid=a0mD000000Aieof) and download the job description to read more details about the position and the skills and experience we're looking for. To submit your application, click on 'Apply now' and complete all relevant fields on the online application form.
We'll ask you to commit to 12 months to make a sustainable impact through your work. In return, we'll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. VSO in-country team and the network of other VSO volunteers will also support you throughout your placement. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.
Volunteering with VSO is life changing. You can find out more about volunteering with VSO at: http://bit.ly/1H0wQD9.