Pediatrician: Volunteer with CMMB in South Sudan

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Are you a Pediatrician wanting to make a huge difference to women, children and communities in South Sudan? Join our CMMB team in South Sudan! Pediatricians are invited to join our community health programs to improve the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable.

Volunteer Position: Pediatrician

Term: 3-12 months

Locations: Nzara, South Sudan

Program Description:

CMMB - Healthier Lives Worldwide is an international, faith-based NGO providing long-term, co-operative, medical and development aid to communities affected by poverty and unequal access to healthcare. Focusing on women’s and children health, our Children and Mothers Partnerships program (CHAMPS) provides effective support-and life-saving medical care-for pregnant women and newborns in eight communities across Haiti, Kenya, Peru, South Sudan, and Zambia. With a commitment to dignity and sustainability, we work at both the community and clinical levels in these targeted communities to strengthen health services and address the leading causes of maternal and child death.

CMMB’s Volunteer Program addresses the critical need for professionals in areas that lack sufficient resources for quality preventive and curative health services. For over a century, our Volunteer Program has placed thousands of practitioners around the world to help develop and implement community health interventions, work at local hospitals and health facilities, conduct clinical training for host country counterparts, and deliver essential medicines and supplies. The ultimate goal of CMMB's Volunteer Program is to support our country teams and local healthcare workers by sending volunteers that are dedicated to strengthening local health systems and supporting a pattern of sustainable development.

CMMB in South Sudan:

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, achieving independence from Sudan in 2011 after a 30 year campaign and conflict. However, in 2013, an internal political dispute led to the outbreak of civil war which has continued on and off since. But in August of this year, a peace deal was signed and there are grounds for optimism that it will lead to a prolonged period of peace and development.

However, this biopic does not account for regional variation in the experience of the people since independence. The north of the country has been worst hit with significant mortality, displacement of people and a refugee crisis, and this has occurred in other regions.

St Theresa sits in the south-west of the country, in Nzara in Gbudue state, the area least impacted by the armed conflict. Whilst, it has experienced issues relating to the conflict, it has escaped the debilitating effects seen in other areas. In 2018, the Hospital has been able to function untouched by conflict.

Nzara and the surrounding area exists in the same topographical region as large parts of neighboring Congo and Central African Republic, with lush, fertile soil, a temperate climate and no current risk of drought or famine. It is distant from the Sahel region of other parts of the country.

CMMB’s CHAMPS areas in South Sudan serve the towns and surrounding areas of Ezo, Nzara, and Yambio. The initiative focuses on safe motherhood, child protection, safe water and sanitation, and women’s empowerment. CMMB provides HIV/AIDS care and treatment and community health workers conduct health information sessions, testing and adherence counseling. The CMMB team provides training and mentorship to local healthcare workers and water committees and manages the supply and distribution of medications and water purification tablets.

Placement Site: Nzara, South Sudan

Nzara is a town with a population, including surrounding villages, of around 100,000. It is approximately 20km from the state capital of Gbudue, Yambio, which has a population of around 300,000.

The town has no infrastructure in terms of services such as electricity, water and gas. All the services are obtained on a house to house level, with use of solar power and bore holes. The road network is basic, hard, impacted mud roads which perform surprisingly well during periods of heavy rain.

There are a few bars and places providing live football streams, but in essence there are no local cultural venues. There are simple marketplaces offering fresh fruit and vegetables and other basic items.

Position Summary:

Pediatricians will support CMMB’s mission by working with local communities’ health facilities and providing expertise, capacity building, and education to local staff. You will be responsible for treating children of all ages with various medical conditions, some not commonly found in the United States. Volunteers will educate families and communities in assisting with the physical and mental development of children. You will handle each case with proper ethical standards and practices to ensure the children’s well-being.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Facility Based

• Responsible for examining, diagnosing, and treating children with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses
• Collect and record medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals
• Plan and execute medical care programs to aid in the mental and physical growth and development of children and adolescents
• Prepare government or organizational reports of birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or medical status of individuals.
• Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients and parents or guardians
• Order and interpret investigations and test results
• Administer vaccines and perform follow-up examinations
• Provide primary health care education and preventative medicine to children and families including educating patients in disease prevention and health maintenance.

Community Based

• Participate in various outreach projects within the community setting and in coordination with care teams and CMMB staff
• Assist with the planning and implement project trainings for healthcare workers and community mobilizers

Capacity building

• Volunteers work directly with hospital leadership and clinical staff on health service delivery, capacity building, on-the-job training and various outreach projects within the community setting
• Facilitate training sessions to educate and train local staff on topics relevant to their profession and based on programmatic needidentified.
• Participate in facility based continuing education and academic activities

Program Support

• Record, maintain and report data to program staff to assist with grant applications and reporting needs.
• Assist with the development of communication projects and outreach initiatives. Assess and report training, supplies and medicines needs to program staff as needed.
• Collaborate with CMMB Volunteer Program team to provide input on prospective volunteers during vetting process and update materials for the Field Volunteer Orientation.
• All other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skill Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age or over
• M.D, D.O or equivalent degree required
• Residency training in Pediatrics.
• Current, active license to practice medicine in good standing with licensing body
• Board Certification/Eligible in Pediatrics/Internal Medicine
• Minimum 1 year of experience as an independent licensed practitioner
• Knowledge of professional and ethical standard of health care delivery and practice
• Capacity to administer treatment to patients while dealing with them in a sympathetic and tactful manner
• Ability to work and live with a diverse group of professionals
• Familiarity and interest in global health issues, especially maternal and child health issues
• Familiarity and interest in public and community health or preventative medicine
• Willingness to endure resource-limited working conditions and evening/weekend hours
• International experience or experience working in developing countries is preferred
• Experience as a supervisor, manager, teacher, trainer and/or any relevant leadership activities is preferred

Interested? Apply today!

Benefits & Conditions:Each international volunteer who serves 3 months or longer in the field receives a round-trip ticket to their placement site, housing, a monthly stipend, insurance coverage, storytelling and fundraising training, and the opportunity to contribute to vital community development initiatives for under-served populations while building a longstanding legacy for the community. Volunteers are required to share stories from the field and cover part of the cost of their placement through fundraising/contributions.

To Apply: Submit an application online at www.cmmb.org/volunteer

Contact:Email : volunteer@cmmb.org