Physicians: Volunteer with CMMB in Kenya

Program Description

CMMB – Healthier Lives Worldwide is an international, faith-based NGO providing long-term, co-operative, medical and development aid to communities affected by poverty and unequal access to  healthcare. For over a century, we have worked to strengthen and support communities through healthcare programs and initiatives, the distribution of medicines and medical supplies, and the placement of volunteers. 

CMMB’s Children and Mothers Partnerships program (CHAMPS) provides effective support—and life-saving medical care—for pregnant women and newborns in eight communities across Haiti, Kenya, Peru, South Sudan, and Zambia. 

CMMB’s Volunteer Program addresses the critical need for professionals in areas that lack sufficient resources for quality preventive and curative health services, especially for women and children.  Our Volunteer Program has placed thousands of practitioners around the world to help develop and implement community health interventions, work at local hospitals and health facilities, conduct clinical training for host country counterparts, and deliver essential medicines and supplies. The ultimate goal of CMMB's Volunteer Program is to support our country teams and local healthcare workers by sending volunteers that are dedicated to strengthening local health systems and supporting a pattern of sustainable development.

CMMB in Kenya

Nairobi‐based CMMB Kenya possesses a strong track record of strengthening health systems and providing quality HIV prevention, care, treatment, and support services. CMMB Kenya’s experience in managing U.S. government and private health awards dates back to 2003.

CMMB Kenya programs have built the capacity of local healthcare organizations to tackle not only HIV/AIDS but also other national health challenges. CMMB Kenya has a reputation for locally managed, high-quality HIV care and treatment, with low loss-to-follow-up and low mortality rates among clients. Program areas include HIV prevention, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV – with support from mentor mothers, and voluntary medical male circumcision, as well as HIV counseling and testing, screening for sexually transmitted infections, and behavior change communication. We also help build human resources for health and work to strengthen Kenyan health systems via direct assistance on health management information systems, finance, administration, and technical training for staff.

CMMB’s Children’s and Mothers Partnerships (CHAMPS) initiative works to improve the health of women and children and, through them, their communities. CMMB’s first CHAMPS site in Kenya is in the southeast, in underprivileged Kitui South sub county. The site focuses on increasing access to healthcare services; income‐generating activities such as livestock breeding; water, sanitation, and hygiene activities; and training and retention of community health workers. CMMB collaborates with the community to engage its members and facilitate their understanding of their own health needs, and acts as a convener to mobilize resources and partners.

 Placement Site: Mutomo, Kitui, Kenya

The village of Mutomo is located in a semi-arid area of Kenya. Although Mutomo is only about four hours by car from Nairobi, it is a world away. Mutomo is an administrative town for the County of Kitui, which has a population of over one million people. The catchment area for Kitui-South sub-county includes a population of 190,000 people and is served by Our Lady of Lourdes, Mutomo Mission Hospital.

The Mutomo Mission Hospital was founded by the nursing sisters of the Irish Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1964 and has continued to offer quality services in the face of intimidating challenges in staff retention and sustainability. Mutomo Hospital is the only level 4 health facility in Kitui-South and is the referral hospital for 48 Sub-County health facilities. The hospital is well-equipped with out-patient services and an in-patient capacity of over 125 patients. It has the only operating theater and equipped dental unit in the Sub-County and is the only facility offering comprehensive care in a radius of over 70 kilometers. Current functionalities include medical, surgical, pediatric, OB/GYN, and MCH services. The hospital also houses a special area caring for patients with HIV/AIDS and TB. Diagnostic services include a wide range of lab tests, plain X-Ray services, and simple ultrasound scans.

 Learn more: http://mutomohospital.or.ke/, https://cmmb.org/country-office/kenya/

Position Summary

Physicians will champion CMMB's mission by working within the hospital providing comprehensive care, including inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic services, and supportive supervision to local staff to strengthen the local health system in the community. As a Physician, you will be supporting the responsibilities outlined below, divided into four categories: direct healthcare delivery, capacity building, community-based activities and program support. 

Duties & Responsibilities

Facility Based

• General in-patient out-patient care
• Perform exams, diagnose, prescribe treatment, and coordinate implementation of care plans
• Minor surgical suture, cleaning and dressing surgical wounds. 
• Occasional assistance with major surgeries such as caesarean sections and post surgical treatment follow up.
• Order and interpret investigations and test results
• Administer vaccines and perform follow-up examinations 
• Provide care for women and children during prenatal, natal, and postnatal periods
• Prepare and review medical records, clinical reports and correspondences 
• Work closely with other healthcare providers to determine patient needs and care plans.

Educational Focus

• Work directly with hospital leadership and clinical staff for capacity building and on-the-job training activities
• Work directly with hospital leadership and clinical staff on improving health service delivery to diverse patient population
• Participate in facility based continuing education and academic activities 
• Participate in various outreach projects within the community setting and in coordination with care teams and CMMB staff 
• Assist with the planning and implement project trainings for healthcare workers and community mobilizers

Community Based

• Collaborating with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and co-develop need-based plans and intervention strategies
• Facilitate training sessions to educate and train local staff on topics relevant to their profession and based on programmatic needs identified. 
• Implementing initiatives to educate the community about health topics and resources including distribution of health education materials, reports, bulletins, and visual aids.
• Provide primary health care education and preventative medicine to adults, children and families including educating patients in disease prevention and health maintenance

Operational Focus

• Record, maintain and report data to CMMB program staff to assist with grant applications and reporting needs.  
• Assist with the development of communication projects and outreach initiatives. Assess and report training, supplies and medicines needed to program staff as needed.   
• Collaborate with the CMMB Volunteer Program team to provide input on prospective volunteers during the vetting process and update materials for the Field Volunteer Orientation.  
• All other duties as assigned

Qualifications & Skill Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age or over
• M.D, D.O or equivalent degree required   
• Residency training in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
• Current, active license to practice medicine in good standing with licensing body
• Board Certification/Eligible in Family Medicine/Internal Medicine 
• Minimum 1 year of experience as an independent licensed practitioner
• Knowledge of professional and ethical standard of health care delivery and practice 
• Capacity to administer treatment to patients while dealing with them in a sympathetic and tactful manner 
• Ability to work collaboratively and live with a diverse group of professionals 
• Familiarity and interest in global health issues, especially maternal and child health issues 
• Familiarity and interest in public and community health or preventative medicine
• Willingness to endure resource-limited working conditions and evening/weekend hours
• At least 1 years of experience in at least one of the following clinical focus areas preferred: 
• Emergency/Trauma
• Women health
• Maternal health
• Labor and Delivery
• HIV/AIDS
• Infectious diseases
• Neonatal care
• Nutrition
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacy
• Public health
• Tropical medicine
• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Vaccination campaigns
• Refugee health
• Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) course preferred
• Knowledge of STDs, HIV/AIDS, and/or PMTCT protocols preferred 
• International experience or experience working in developing countries is preferred
• Experience as a supervisor, manager, teacher, trainer and/or any relevant leadership activities is preferred