Community Health Educator (CHE)

Location:  Loibor-Siret and Kimotorok Villages in Simanjiro District

Duration:  This is a grant-funded two-year position.  The contract is renewable after each year and the position may continue past the initial 24 months.

Supervisors:  This individual will be supervised by a representative of Loibor-Siret Sustainable Education Forum supported by MWEDO and Humanity for Children.  This individual will be independent of the two government dispensaries; however, cooperation and collaboration with the dispensaries staffs is expected.

General Description of Position:

The Community Health Educator (CHE) will coordinate health education activities that are included in the Rotary Global Grant -- Mother & Newborn Survival in Rural Areas of North Tanzania.  These activities will bring critical health information to individuals, families, and extended-family households throughout the Loibor-Siret and Kimotorok areas.  The CHE will help coordinate the following projects and initiatives:  1) promoting pregnant mothers to attend at least four pre-natal and four post-natal visits to the dispensary or at mobile health clinic events; 2) encouraging pregnant women to deliver their babies at the dispensary; 3) assisting with the training of traditional birth attendants who will promote safe birthing at the dispensary or, in an emergency, at home; 4) working with the traditional birth attendants to identify every pregnant woman and making sure she, and her family, receive education about safe-birthing practices; 5) assisting others with menstrual hygiene management education in the schools and in the field; 6) providing education for the first 1,000 days program to promote health during pregnancy and for the first two years of an infant’s life; 6) Coordinating the creation and distribution of safe-birthing kits; and 7) Collecting health education data to assist in program effectiveness and future program development.

Job Duties:

1.  Work closely with dispensary staff to identify and follow the pregnancies of women in these two areas;
2. Using technology, written information, and presentations to provide education for individuals on safe-birthing practices, healthy child development, menstrual hygiene, and other health topics;
3. Accompany, when needed, pregnant mothers when they attend pre and post-natal visits at the dispensary or during mobile health events;
4. Accompany nurses on mobile clinic events, using that time to educate people on primary health topics, including the first 1,000 days health program;
5. Help coordinate the Menstrual Hygiene Management project funded through Humanity for Children, including making regular visits to schools and other venues to promote menstrual hygiene;

Instruct women, including young female students, on the use of menstrual hygiene products, including washable/reusable menstrual pads;

6. Document activities and conduct evaluation of projects and services;
7. Keep up-to-date on healthcare literature related to maternal, newborn, and infant wellbeing;
8. Accompany Humanity for Children and Rotary International teams when they are visiting, including providing translation services, helping coordinate their activities, and informing them of project results;
9. Document activities with photos and videos, when appropriate, and share with grant director;
10. Complete regular reports that will be shared with grant director and supervisors.

Necessary Skills:

1. University degree in a field.  Preference to healthcare fields.
2. Two years experience preferred in healthcare, education, social work or related field.
3. Proficiency in Maa, Swahili, and English.
4. Verbal and written communication skills.
5. Strong interest in maternal, newborn, and child health.
6. Ability to work independently and with little day-to-day supervision.
7. Leadership, advocacy, and assertiveness skills.
8. Physical fitness in order to travel to schools and homes by walking long distances or riding moto-taxis or in the medical transport/mobile clinic vehicle.
9. Strong decision-making, mediation and conflict resolution skills.
10. Presentation skills needed to address community groups, classrooms, and village leaders.
11. Ability to use technology, including: a laptop computer, smart-phone, and the following software programs:  email, WhatsApp, word processing, a video-meeting application, and  power point. Ability to use spreadsheets is preferred, but this can be part of the training.
12. Organizational and time management skills.

Compensation:

1. Lodging will be provided by the Simanjiro District Health Officer in the Nurses’ House in Loibor-Siret.
2. Total Gross monthly salary will be Tsh. 1,200,000/- before all statutory deductions.
3. The Project will also pay 10% NSSF and 10% will be paid by the employee.
4. The Project will also cover the cost for Workers Compensation Fund.