Ethiopian Public Health Institute would like to invite qualified and competent applicants to apply for the following post.
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute(EPHI) is established by the council of ministers regulation No. 301/2013 which recognize the Institute an autonomous federal government office having its own legal personality. The institute is accountable for the Federal Minister of Health.
The institute shall have the following objectives:
1. Undertake research, based on national public health research agenda, on priority health and nutrition problems, and generate, absorb and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge to improve the health of the general public;
2. In collaboration with the concerned bodies conduct surveillance for the early identification and detection of public health risks and prevent public health emergencies through adequate preparedness; and alert, warn and dispatch timely information during public health emergency, respond effectively and timely and ensure rapid recovery of the affected population from the impact of the public health emergency;
3. Strengthen its laboratories with trained man power and technology to undertake problem solving researches provide effective response to public health emergencies, carry out referral diagnostic and analytical tests; and support the capacity building of health and food science laboratories at the national level to enable them provide quality
laboratory services.
The Institute secures average annual revenue of 25 million Birr and more than 20 million USD (in cash and in kind) from different donors.
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute, EPHI shall have advisory board in respect of policy, strategy and other major institutional matters.
1: Data Collectors
Workplace: Oromia region, Gimbichu woreda
Employment type: Contract
Duration: 60 days
Required number: three (3)
Gender: Female
Report to: Nutrition, Environmental Health and Non-communicable Diseases Research Directorate
Salary: 12, 000 Birr
Job Description:
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) strives to address nutrition and health-related problems by conducting population-based research and contributing to the effective implementation of the Food and Nutrition Policy and Strategy in Ethiopia. To this end, Nutrition, Environmental Health and Non-communicable Diseases Research Directorate of EPHI in collaboration with the University of California Davis and Nutrition International (NI), a Canadian non-governmental organization, is planning to conduct research on the development and assessment of double-fortified salt with iodine and folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in Ethiopia
Spina bifida and related neural tube defects (NTDs) are caused by abnormalities in the formation of the brain and spinal cord during early embryonic development and result in a high prevalence of fetal loss, infant and young child mortality, severe physical disabilities among survivors, and incalculable suffering of affected individuals and their families. Research conducted in the 1980s-90s demonstrated that NTDs are associated with poor maternal folate status and can be largely prevented by providing additional folate in the form of folic acid supplements or folic acid-fortified foods during the peri-conceptional period.
The prevalence of NTDs is high in Ethiopia, and the national government has issued a series of recommendations to address this problem, including folic acid fortification of staple foods and condiments. Because of the success of salt iodization in Ethiopia, where more than 90% of households consume iodized salt, salt is an attractive vehicle to consider for folic acid fortification. However, no countries currently deploy folic acid fortification of salt as a public health program, and the Ethiopian Government has requested rigorous evaluation of this strategy before initiating a national program to fortify salt with folic acid.
In response to this challenge, we plan to implement a community-based research project in rural Ethiopia, to assess the acceptability and nutritional impact of double-fortified salt containing both iodine and folic acid (DFS-IoFA). During the first phase of the project, we will measure dietary folate consumption and discretionary salt intakes by women in the study communities to determine the appropriate level of folic acid fortification of salt. We will also assess the women’s folate, vitamin B12 and iodine status using blood and urine to assess the suitability of the study communities.
Skill and educational background
BSc in Nutrition, Food science and nutrition, Public health and Nurses with Zero year experience
Able to understand nutrtional assessment data collection
Good communication and teamwork experience
Language: Speaking and reading skills in Afaan Oromo, English and Amhari is mandatory.
Duty station/location: The successful candidate will be based in study location, Oromia, Gibmichu Woreda
Application Way
Interested applicants can register in Online through only ethiojobs.net send their CVs and relevant documents at the address given below within 10 days from the first appearance of the announcement
Remarks: Please attach copies of transcripts, academic degree or recommendation letters together with the application. If not attached the copies you may be not short listed. Apply Now
Deadline: Sep 15, 2024