Pediatrician – Maternity Cover

Under the general supervision of the Bahir Dar MCH Specialty Centre Manager, the Pediatrician and Child Health Specialist is responsible for providing high-quality clinical care to newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. The role includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment, emergency management, newborn resuscitation, and follow-up care in accordance with accepted medical standards, national clinical guidelines, and professional codes of conduct.

The position holder provides specialist pediatric care, supports quality improvement in newborn and child health services, advises parents and caregivers on child growth and development, and contributes to capacity building, clinical mentoring, reporting, and research activities within the MCH Centre.

2. Key Duties and Responsibilities

A. Clinical Care and Case Management

• Examine, assess, diagnose, and treat newborns, infants, children, and adolescents in accordance with standard medical procedures and clinical protocols.
• Provide comprehensive pediatric consultations, including history taking, physical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up care.
• Manage common and complex childhood illnesses, including neonatal conditions, infectious diseases, malnutrition, respiratory illnesses, gastrointestinal conditions, anemia, and other pediatric emergencies.
• Perform newborn resuscitation, essential newborn care, and stabilization of sick newborns and children.
• Identify, manage, and appropriately refer complicated pediatric and neonatal cases requiring higher-level care.
• Prescribe medicines, investigations, and procedures based on clinical assessment, diagnostic findings, laboratory results, and approved treatment guidelines.
• Provide emergency pediatric care and participate in on-call or emergency duties as required.

B. Newborn and Child Health Services

• Provide essential newborn care, including assessment of newborns, identification of danger signs, thermal care, feeding support, and early management of complications.
• Monitor growth and development of children and provide appropriate counseling to parents and caregivers.
• Support preventive child health services, including immunization counseling, nutrition counseling, infection prevention, and early detection of developmental delays.

C. Patient Counseling and Communication

• Provide clear, accurate, and culturally appropriate information to parents and caregivers regarding diagnosis, treatment options, prognosis, and follow-up care.
• Counsel families on prevention of childhood illnesses, recognition of danger signs, treatment adherence, and timely care-seeking.
• Ensure patient dignity, privacy, confidentiality, and informed decision-making in all clinical encounters.

D. Quality Assurance and Clinical Governance

• Ensure that clinical services are delivered in line with national guidelines, organizational policies, and accepted pediatric standards of care.
• Support implementation of quality improvement initiatives related to newborn, infant, and child health services.
• Participate in clinical audits, case reviews, mortality reviews, and other quality assurance activities.
• Participate in training programs and clinical updates for nurses, midwives, health officers, general practitioners, and other health staff.
• Provide clinical mentorship and technical support to staff involved in newborn and child health care.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including obstetricians, midwives, nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacists, nutritionists, and other health professionals.

E. Documentation, Reporting, and Research

• Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential patient records in line with organizational and legal requirements.
• Prepare and submit clinical reports, service statistics, and other documentation as required.
• Participate in operational research, clinical studies, and evidence-based improvement initiatives where applicable.

F. Compliance and Professional Conduct

• Adhere to government regulations, Ministry of Health guidelines, organizational policies, and professional ethical standards.
• Practice in accordance with accepted medical ethics, professional code of conduct, and patient-centered care principles.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualification Requirements

Education

• Doctor of Medicine degree or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
• Specialty training in Pediatrics and Child Health.
• Valid professional license or registration to practice as a pediatrician.

B. Experience

• Minimum of two years of relevant clinical experience after specialization in Pediatrics.
• Experience in newborn care, pediatric emergency management, inpatient and outpatient pediatric services is desirable.

4. Required Skills, Attitudes, and Attributes

Clinical and Technical Skills

• Strong diagnostic, clinical, and decision-making skills in pediatrics and newborn care.
• Competence in newborn resuscitation and management of pediatric emergencies.
• Knowledge of national pediatric, neonatal, immunization, nutrition, and child health guidelines.

Communication and Counseling Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children, parents, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong counseling skills, especially in child nutrition, breastfeeding, immunization, treatment adherence, and danger signs.
• Ability to provide compassionate, respectful, and culturally sensitive care.

Professional and Personal Attributes

• High ethical standards, integrity, professionalism and Client-service oriented.
• Commitment to confidentiality, dignity, and rights of patients.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and quality improvement.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Awareness of Ministry of Health guidelines, donor requirements, and organizational regulations.
• Commitment to organizational values, including respectful, non-judgmental, and rights-based care.

5. Working Conditions

• 6-month Maternity Cover position at Bahir-Dar MCH Centre.
• May require night shifts, weekend duties, emergency coverage, and on-call responsibilities.