Medical Volunteer - Benadir Hospital (ARC)

[Admin]

AMERICAN REFUGEE COMMITTEE

POSITION: Medical Volunteer LOCATION: Benadir Hospital, Mogadishu Somalia STATUS: Full-Time for a minimum of 3-4 weeks COMPENSATION: Unpaid. R/T airfare is provided along with lodging, emergency medical evacuation insurance and a $20/day stipend.

** Fluency in Somali and English is required, no exceptions **

ARC PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION:

The Somalia country program of the American Refugee Committee (ARC) is actively responding to current drought and famine crisis in Somalia from an operation base in Mogadishu and Dhobley. ARC is working closely with national and local authorities and with a number of Mogadishu-based international and national organizations to galvanize concerted and coordinated lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

ARC is not new to supporting the needy peoples of Somalia. It previously initiated humanitarian assistance programs in Somalia in March 1993 with funding from OFDA, Stichting Vluchteling and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The first location of ARC’s interventions was Bardera District in the Gedo Region and later worked in other Districts such as Hagar, Afmadou and Badhade districts through to 1997. ARC now plans to marshal resources and work with other INGOS, local NGOs, government and regional authorities with a view to consolidating existing gains by all partners.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

This is a special opportunity for those with a passion, skills and experience in international humanitarian response. ARC is seeking Somali volunteer medical professionals who are needed to make a difference in the lives of the people who are suffering from the famine.

There is an urgent need in particular for pediatric doctors and nurses. The volunteers will initially be working in Benadir Hospital in Mogadishu which is overcrowded with sick children and is in short supply of medical staff. We will be deploying 4 to 5 medical professionals at time for a minimum of 3-weeks at a time. It is possible that we will expand to additional hospitals as the program grows.

ARC staff will greet volunteers in Nairobi to facilitate travel and deployment to Somalia. Upon arrival in Mogadishu, volunteers will again be met by ARC staff at the airport and will be transported to our comfortable staff house within the city. The ARC house has several bedrooms, air-conditioning, a cook (for $15 dollars a day), and both female and male ARC staff members & volunteers living within its quarters. Volunteers are escorted to Benadir Hospital each day by car. Volunteers will also be provided with $20 USD per day for basic costs within Mogadishu, roundtrip airfare to Nairobi/Mogadishu, emergency medical evacuation insurance, lodging and reimbursement of visa expenses (Nairobi & Mogadishu).

PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Medical Volunteer may be responsible for:

• Assisting in conducting health assessments if needed. • Providing medical care to affected populations as assigned. • Directing medical care and supervising local staff as needed; this may include assisting in identifying and training local nurses for capacity building. • Performing other duties as assigned by the Medical Coordinator and/or the Country Director.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Fluency in English & Somali required.
• MD, NP, or RN required.
• MPH / MHA in Hospital Management. • Proven clinical experience within the past year. • International experience working in health programs in emergency and post conflict environments with limited/degraded local resources and infrastructure in insecure environments preferred. • Adaptable; positive attitude. • Ability to work in a multicultural context as a respectful team player. • Ability to work under difficult and stressful situations.

To apply for this position, please visit our Careers page at http://www.arcrelief.org to submit your cover letter and application.