IPC/1/2010 - Regional Clinical Coordinator Pasteur/AFD/SISEA

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS : AUGUST 31ST, 2010

SISEA (Surveillance and Investigation of Endemic Situations in Southeast Asia) is a 5-year project (2006-2011) implemented in Asia by the Institut Pasteur.
The aim: SISEA program contributes to improving the detection of and response to epidemic situations in the region.

The specific goal of SISEA is to set up an epidemic surveillance and investigation program in four of the region’s countries (China, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia).
 
Accomplishing this goal is conditional on the following three activities:
1. Reinforcing the network of IP laboratories in China (Shanghai), Vietnam, and Cambodia, in terms of their function as a reference laboratory and NCLE (Laos)
2. Strengthening the epidemic surveillance and warning program on emerging viruses in each of the countries associated with the project
3. Strengthening the epidemic response networks at the regional level

To achieve these results, SISEA works with six partners: five members of the Institut Pasteur International Network (RIIP) and the National Centre for Laboratory and Epidemiology in Laos. All participants are now engaged in the surveillance of respiratory infections and encephalitis through sentinel sites.

The International Division at the Institut Pasteur manages SISEA. A coordination unit has been established in Vientiane comprising a Regional Project Manager and a secretary. The Regional Project Manager works together with the SISEA project manager at the International division of the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the scientific coordinator in Laos.

The SISEA steering committee decided in December 2008 to strengthen the project’s coordination unit and to recruit a Health Coordinator in order to harmonize regional health activities and assist with the implementation of epidemiological programs in the NCLE.

1. Coordinate medical and epidemiological activities among the different partners of the SISEA project:
Harmonize surveillance protocols
Organize regional training
Liaise with technical partners such as WHO, ABD and other regional networks such as MBDS
Develop, in collaboration with the International Division at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, a regional strategy to optimize the SISEA program

2. Strengthen the capacity of the National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology-NCLE especially regarding:
Implementation and reinforcement of the SISEA’s Respiratory Infections Surveillance Program in Vientiane through close collaboration with NCLE’s different units and the sentinel hospitals involved in the program
Preparation of NCLE’s SISEA plans with a focus on the objective “strengthening the capacity of epidemic alert on emergent viruses in the region”

Specific tasks:

For SISEA

• Regional cooperation with the epidemiology units in the preparation of an action plan to achieve SISEA’s second regional objective, as stated above
• Coordination with the SISEA project manager of the International Division in Paris, the scientific coordinator in Laos with reference to the steering committee and the scientific advisory board
• Regular contact with SISEA’s regional partners and technical partners such as WHO, ABD and other regional networks such as MBDS

• Assessment of respiratory infections surveillance activities, at NCLE and at the three selected sentinel hospitals in Vientiane, in order to assure good practices in all the surveillance process (patient selection, sample taking, specimen handling, data collection and reporting, etc.)
• Proposal of solutions, especially in terms of training needed, for the surveillance activities both at NCLE and at the sentinel hospitals
• Provision of special support to the Lao national surveillance coordinator to ensure the successful handing of supervision of the surveillance program

• M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. or equivalent degree with focus in public health, infectious diseases or a related field
• Experience in field epidemiology and disease surveillance, preferably with specific knowledge of respiratory infections
• Experience in management of development cooperation projects, preferably in Asia
• Past research experience in developing countries is highly desirable
• Knowledge of the public health sector and the health system structures of Lao PDR would be an asset
• Personal characteristics: team builder, result oriented, flexible and energetic leader, writing skills
• Languages: Fluent in English. A good command of French would be an asset

Please direct all applications to :

Marc JOUAN
Institut Pasteur
28 rue du Docteur Roux
75724 PARIS CEDEX 15
Te l: 33 1 45 68 81 48
Fax : 33 1 45 68 89 52
E-mail: reseau@pasteur.fr
 
Deadline for submitting applications is August 31st 2010.