Biomedical Technician: Volunteer with CMMB in South Sudan

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Are you a Biomedical Technician wanting to make a huge difference to women, children and communities in South Sudan? Join our team CMMB Team in South Sudan! Biomedical Technicians are invited to join our community health programs to improve the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable.

Volunteer Position: Biomedical Technician

Term: 3-12 months

Locations: Nzara, South Sudan

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 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 South Sudan:

South Sudan is the world’s newest country, achieving independence from Sudan in 2011 after a 30 year campaign and conflict. However, in 2013, an internal political dispute led to the outbreak of civil war which has continued on and off since. But in August of this year, a peace deal was signed and there are grounds for optimism that it will lead to a prolonged period of peace and development.

However, this biopic does not account for regional variation in the experience of the people since independence. The north of the country has been worst hit with significant mortality, displacement of people and a refugee crisis, and this has occurred in other regions.

St Theresa sits in the south-west of the country, in Nzara in Gbudue state, the area least impacted by the armed conflict. Whilst, it has experienced issues relating to the conflict, it has escaped the debilitating effects seen in other areas. In 2018, the Hospital has been able to function untouched by conflict.

Nzara and the surrounding area exists in the same topographical region as large parts of neighboring Congo and Central African Republic, with lush, fertile soil, a temperate climate and no current risk of drought or famine. It is distant from the Sahel region of other parts of the country.

CMMB’s CHAMPS areas in South Sudan serve the towns and surrounding areas of Ezo, Nzara, and Yambio. The initiative focuses on safe motherhood, child protection, safe water and sanitation, and women’s empowerment. CMMB provides HIV/AIDS care and treatment and community health workers conduct health information sessions, testing and adherence counseling. The CMMB team provides training and mentorship to local healthcare workers and water committees and manages the supply and distribution of medications and water purification tablets.

Placement Site: Nzara, South Sudan

Nzara is a town with a population, including surrounding villages, of around 100,000. It is approximately 20km from the state capital of Gbudue, Yambio, which has a population of around 300,000.

The town has no infrastructure in terms of services such as electricity, water and gas. All the services are obtained on a house to house level, with use of solar power and bore holes. The road network is basic, hard, impacted mud roads which perform surprisingly well during periods of heavy rain.

There are a few bars and places providing live football streams, but in essence there are no local cultural venues. There are simple marketplaces offering fresh fruit and vegetables and other basic items.

Position Summary

Biomedical Technicians or IT Specialists will champion CMMB’s mission by working withtheir overseas facilitiesboth remotely and/or in the fieldto strengthen the local health system by providing expertisethat ensureshospitals have properly functioning equipment to aid their staff in the diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care of patients. You will travel to hospitals and clinics to install, repair, and maintain a variety of medical and laboratory equipment, as well astrain local staff in the operation and ongoing maintenance of that equipment. As a Biotech or IT Specialist, you will be supporting the responsibilities outlined below. You must be able to give specialized technical support, conduct situational analysis, and take sectoral leadership.

Duties & Responsibilities

Technical Based

• Conduct assessments to identify gaps in existing biomedical equipment & infrastructure, andrecommendsolutions & improvements to enhance healthcare delivery
• Review & evaluate service contracts for biomedical equipment, ensuring that contracts meet the required standards & provide value to the local facility
• Assess & approve new biomedical equipment for safety, functionality, & suitability for the healthcare facility by guaranteeing it meets regulatory & clinical standards before use
• Install, configure, test& calibratea variety of biomedical and research equipment, ensuring all equipment meets safety & operational standards by using a variety of manuals, troubleshooting techniques, and code requirements
• Perform scheduled maintenance inspections and performance assurance inspections on equipment to ensuresafe and effective operating conditions
• Diagnose equipmentmalfunctionswithaccuracy and precision,remotely and/or in person
• Maintain, monitor, clean, adjust, and repair biomedical equipment and systems regularly
• Provide technical support & troubleshooting for equipment issues in person and/or via phone or video calls
• Keep a healthy & safe work environment through safety tests, code compliance & training others
• Keep detailed records & reports of equipment maintenance &repairs, faulty components, recalibrated devices, & training sessions
• Report equipment status & any issues to appropriate authorities & relevantparties
• Ensure all documentation is complete, timely, and accurate
• Ensure that all work with medical equipment respects patient privacy & confidentiality
• Adhere to local & international regulations regarding the handling of patient information

Educational Focus

• Facilitate virtual and/or in-person training sessions to train local staff on how tooperate and care for equipment with physical demonstrations and educational presentations, promoting best practices in biomedical engineering
• Train & mentor local biomedical technicians in advancedinstallation, troubleshooting, care & repair techniques
• Assist in establishing local protocols & procedures for equipment maintenance & management

Program Support

• Collaborate with CMMB Volunteer Program team to provide input on prospective volunteers during 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
• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology, Applied Sciences, or related field, or equivalent military training, accredited by the American Board for Engineering and Technology
• Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician (CBET) certification preferred; Certified Radiology Equipment Specialists (CRES) and Certified Laboratory Equipment Specialist (CLEB) would also be appropriate
• 3-5 years of relevant experience working with biomedical equipment such as: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, computed tomography (CT) scanners, X-ray machines, ultrasound equipment, and/or positron emission tomography (PET)
• Knowledge of technicalrequirements, codes, and standards associatedwith the field
• Knowledge of professional and ethical standard of health care delivery and practice
• Basic understanding of anatomy, physiology, and medicalterminology
• Advanced computer skills
• Skilledproficiency in the use of tools and test equipment
• Ability to interprettechnical data like electronic circuit diagrams, schematics, and blueprints
• Ability to solve technical and performance problemsusing information from a variety of sources
• Ability to work well under pressure and thrive in a fast-paced medical environment
• Solid technical skills and the ability to repair machinery with meticulous attention to detail
• Supervisory and/or training expertise is a plus
• Ability to work 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
• 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
• Experience & ability to work virtually across different time zones is preferred

Interested? Apply today!

Benefits & Conditions: Each international volunteer who serves 3 months or longer in the field receives a round-trip ticket to their placement site, housing, a monthly stipend, insurance coverage, storytelling and fundraising training, and the opportunity to contribute to vital community development initiatives for under-served populations while building a longstanding legacy for the community. Volunteers are required to share stories from the field and cover part of the cost of their placement through fundraising/contributions.

To Apply: Submit an application online at www.cmmb.org/volunteer

Contact:

Email: volunteer@cmmb.org