Helen Keller International (HKI), an International NGO, has been working in Bangladesh since 1978. HKI implements different projects in partnership with national and international NGOs, development partners, academic and research institutions, and the private sector. HKI takes a gender-sensitive approach to improving nutrition, food security and eye health. Current program areas include Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong and the CHT.

Recognizing diabetic retinopathy (DR) as a critical public health issue, particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged populations with a high prevalence of diabetes, HKI initiated programming to address DR in 2009. In early 2014, HKI expanded this commitment to addressing DR with the support of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind by initiating the Scaling Up Diabetic Services (SDRS) project in Bangladesh to build capacity within public and private hospitals to screen and treat DR.

The overall goal of the Scaling up Diabetic Retinopathy Services in Bangladesh, Phase II (SDRS2) project is to continue to build the capacity of the Government of Bangladesh to deliver high-quality screening and treatment services for diabetic retinopathy (DR), focusing on vulnerable and disadvantaged populations through the public healthcare system.

During the proposed second phase of the Scaling up Diabetic Retinopathy Services project, SDRS2, HKI will continue to support the NIO to provide DR services to patients in Dhaka, as well as establish two new screening and treatment centers in the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (in Mymensingh) and Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (in Bogra).
HKI is seeking to recruit the following position for the SDRS2 project.

Scope of Work:

The Health Education Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive health education program, specifically designed for different target groups as needed. S/he will work under the supervision of the Program Manager – Health and will be stationed at the Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH), Bogra or Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh.

Job Responsibilities:

• Conduct a participatory rural communication appraisal in an effort to understand awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practices of the target population;
• Work closely with the stakeholders to assist in planning and designing a communication strategy for specific target groups.
• Assist with the design of materials that need to be developed as well as explore different media options to ensure coverage;
• Assist in designing training curriculum for hospital staff as needed to implement communication strategy;
• Look for areas of collaboration within other target communities that could be supported by health-related activities;
• Create and increase awareness about the eye health consequences of diabetics and improve the health seeking behavior among diabetics through screening and communication activities;
• Provide information to diabetes patients on how diabetes affects vision, the need for regular vision screening and information on potential treatment options for diabetic eye diseases;
• Seek to address any concerns or fears that patients may have regarding treatment of diabetic eye diseases and gender disparities in health seeking behavior;
• Provide health education on other diabetes-related health issues including diet, hypertension, cholesterol and smoking etc.;
• Adapt communication materials to the local context and work with local staff at the diabetic clinics to ensure education and information on diabetic retinopathy is correctly and consistently provided to diabetics at the clinic;
• Educate general health practitioners and diabetologists at participating diabetes clinics regarding the eye health effects of diabetes and the importance of early detection and treatment of DR;
• Organize events to create and increase awareness on Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and ensure the dissemination of information on DR to improve patient awareness of the eye health effects of diabetes.

Education:

• Diploma or degree in relevant field but persons with other relevant experience such as eye health services, nutrition, and diabetes will be an added advantage.

Other Requirement:

• 2-4 years working experience in developing health education strategies;
• Experienced facilitator;
• Must be willing to accept phone calls 24 hours a day from patients and provide compassionate counseling and education;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Creative and innovative;
• Excellent oral and written skills in both Bengali and English
• Must be able to work with others and manage a large team of people – problem solving will be important;
• Experience with MS Office and should be comfortable with computer databases;
• Documented history of writing field reports.

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Apply with a complete resume with contact telephone number and a copy of a recent passport size photograph. Applications should be sent to Head of HR at E-mail: Bangladesh-Recruitment@hki.org  by 5:00 PM December 21, 2017. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview

Helen Keller International is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified women and minorities candidates. The organization has a smoke free working environment.

www.hki.org