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Full time Research Assistant
Italian Consulate
2003-02-10

The Italian Consulate requires a full time Research Assistant. The incumbent should have a degree in Science, Medicine,Master in P.H. and related and must be able to use a PC SW (Word,Excel. Experience in scientific literature reviews is also required. Please send your applications (with CV + Copy of qualifications) signed and sent to Fax to 033 3952211. Those sent by fax before February 25th will be considered first; thereafter applications received after the deadline other might be considered till successful recruitement. Enquiries can be sent to Dr.Vella 3953257 or Dr.Silvestri 3952974.

Contractor: Italian Consulate in Durban

Duration: March 1^st to June 30^th ,with possible extensions

Type: Temporary Consultancy, ull time

Reward: 5000-12000 (36-71 per hour) Rands according to qualification and experience

Qualifications: degree in Science, Medicine,Master in P.H. and related

Skills: Use of common PC SW (Word,Excel)-Experience in scientific literature reviews

Location: The job will be in the DOH in PieterMaritzburg with frequent visits to relevant institutions within the Province; transports and allowances provided by the project.

Applications: The applications (with CV + Copy of qualifications) signed and sent by fax within February 25^th will be first considered; after that deadline other application might be considered till successful recruitement: Fax to 033 3952211-Italian Cooperation before Feb.25^th

Terms of Reference: See attachment

Enquiries about job: Dr.Vella: 3953257 or Dr.Silvestri: 3952974

Enq.about the Project: see Italian Cooperation on Home page of DoH www.kznhealth.gov.za

The incumbent will follow up the ongoing activities related to the epidemiological library and the database. The aim is to form an institutional memory of relevant information that can be used for health planning. The epidemiological library contains already copies of published materials that is archived into sections related to epidemiology, evidence based medicine, health economics, policy and planning. The epidemiological information has been extracted according to quality control criteria and has been entered into a database. In order to build such institutional memory, the incumbent will have to trace, collect and archive all relevant reports, extract the epidemiological information and enter it in the database.

One data source to be used to update the epidemiological library and the database is the Internet. Medline and specific websites will be used to trace whatever information is available on the incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability of diseases. The search on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of health interventions will be carried out through the Cochran Library that is accessible through the intranet of the DOH. The abstracts/reports will be screened, saved in electronic format in a directory, printed and archived in the library, while the relevant scientific articles will be traced in the medical libraries. The information will be extracted and included in the database.

Another source of information include the research institutions such as the Medical Research Council, the University in Durban, Statistics SA and registries on specific diseases. Other institutions to be contacted include those which although not conducting primary research are involved in the health field such as the Health System Trust that is producing relevant reports and is distributing on the Internet the "Health Link Bulletin". The incumbent will contact relevant people in these institutions to trace published and unpublished reports, a description of the studies conducted and the availability of electronic data files. The reports will be archived in the epidemiological library and the information will be extracted and entered in the epidemiological database.

The managers of the relevant programs in the DOH will be contacted to trace whatever relevant reports they may have. These programmes include the health information system, the TB and malaria control programs, HIV/AIDS, nutrition etc. The reports are those related to policy and guidelines, and those containing quantitative information from management/monitoring systems. The relevant reports will be archived in the library and the information will be integrated in the database. It will be also important to archive all the relevant data collection forms used in these programs with a description of the data recorded in these forms, the level of the system where the form is used, and the guideline available on how to fill the forms. The objective is to have a description of programmes, guidelines, activities and whatever quantitative information on these activities may be available.

The incumbent needs to be familiar with tracing, using and archiving scientific information. For this reason he/she should be accustomed in searching the Internet and the libraries, in having contacts with research institutions, and in following up the delivery of the information requested. As this involves requesting materials that is not always delivered, and in trying to get people that are not available and frequently not interested in replying, the incumbent will have to organize a system to follow up the non-responders and contact them again in case of no reply. He/she needs to be well organized in archiving the information into research areas and in building an archive where information can be traced easily and fast. Good interpersonal skills are needed as well.

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