Mission and objectives

UNAMA was established in 2002 as a Political/ Peacebuilding Mission, exceptionally) directed and supported by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

Context

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was established by the Security Council Resolution 1876 of 26 June 2002 as a Political/ Peacebuilding Mission, exceptionally directed, and supported by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). The UNAMA strategic review conducted in 2017 indicated a continued commitment to a UN field presence, which is to be the cornerstone of engagement in supporting Afghans across the country. To fulfill this commitment, the UN requires the right resources and support mechanisms, which include medical emergency response. UNAMA Medical Section is the primary provider of reliable, client-oriented, cost-efficient, and prompt primary health care to all personnel from participating UN entities including UNAMA, and the Agencies, Funds, and Programmes. The Section aims to protect and promote staff health, sustain, and improve their working capacity, contribute to a safe and healthy working environment, and promote the adaptation of work to the capabilities of staff, taking account of their health status.

Task Description

Description of tasks Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) or his/her designated representative, the UN Volunteer Medical Officer will undertake: Clinical duties • Attend the UN clinic located in the respective Field Office, on a full-time basis. • Undertake day-to-day clinical consultations with UN personnel. • Stabilize and refer/evacuate complicated/emergency medical and trauma cases to higher medical facilities. • Follow up with higher medical facilities for all referred/evacuated cases. • Provide on-call services outside office hours to respond and attend to all medical and trauma emergencies, 24/7 • Identify and liaise with local health facilities that could be of help in mass casualty incidents. • Development of emergency capacity of medical facilities within the UN. • Provide timely support (e.g., medical escort) for medical evacuations (Medevac) and Casualty evacuations (Casevac) of UN personnel. Occupational health duties • Conduct pre-placement, periodic, and exit medical examinations. and provide routine immunizations. • Prepare UN staff for traveling by providing immunizations, malaria prophylaxis, travel kits, personal health maintenance briefing, etc. • Maintain a current list of staff members with chronic health conditions. • Provide health education and health promotion programs. • Participate in addressing work environment and occupational health issues. • Ensure infection prevention and control standards are implemented in the UN clinic and compounds. Training/Capacity building • Assist in the delivery of training such as: Emergency Trauma Bag (ETB) first responder course, individual first aid kit (IFAK) course, emergency first aid, UN Buddy First Aid Course, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and AED, and medical incident command system. • Revise and rehearse the mass casualty incident response plan in UN compounds. • Participate and coordinate in-extremis exercises in UN compounds. Managing Medical Logistics • Maintain adequate stocks of medication and medical supplies through management of the inventory and timely requests to the mission pharmacist to avoid stockouts. • Ensure proper functioning of medical equipment and devices, and report malfunctioning equipment to allow for timely repair/replacement. • Ensure optimal and rational use of resources while respecting medical ethics. Reporting • Prepare and submit reports on all activities, to the CMO and/or his/her designate on a weekly and /or monthly basis. Furthermore, the UN Volunteer will be roving in Field Offices covered by MERT.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management

Living conditions and remarks

Afghanistan is a hardship duty station with a volatile security. Living and working conditions for UN volunteers in UNAMA are similar to the living conditions of all other internationally recruited staff members. UN volunteers are provided with safe accommodation in an extensive compound in Kabul with good infrastructure and amenities. The single unit accommodation in UNOCA and other field locations are fully furnished; this includes, furniture, washing machine dryer, hot plate, iron and iron stand, microwave, plates, cups, spoons, cooking utensils, electric kettle. Bedsheets and pillow covers are also provided. Inside the UNOCA compound are four cafeterias, a restaurant, a Supermarket and 3 small shops which provide a variety of groceries, fresh vegetables, imported canned and frozen food on offer. There is also a social center and a gym within the same compound. The Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own towel and other personal accessories including toiletries and medicines which they may not find easily within the supermarkets inside the UNOCA Compound. Some degree of medical service is provided in all UNAMA duty stations. There is a UN clinic in UNAMA/UNOCA complex, and access is granted in Kabul to other private international clinics (when and if needed). Summer in Afghanistan is hot and dry, but winter is the opposite – cold and wet. Therefore, both summer and winter clothing and comfortable boots with insulation are necessary.