One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI) is a Nigerian-based nonprofit organization that works to promote education, advocacy, and solutions to correlated issues of human, animal, and environmental health using the integrated “One Health” approach. Our mission is rooted in the belief that public health issues are intertwined across the human, animal, and environmental ecosystems thereby requiring a holistic approach to effective and sustainable solutions.
One of our key organizational mandates is to contribute to efforts at control, prevention, and elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), particularly those of zoonotic origin, in line with the NTD and SDG 2030 Goals. Currently, we are implementing Project SCHISTO, which aims to promote integrated One Health research and intervention on Schistosomiasis in South-West Nigeria – the region with the highest prevalence of the disease in the country.
To support the implementation of this project, we are seeking young health professionals or students based in southwest Nigeria who are interested or are already active in the public health sector and will perform roles as NTD CHAMPIONS in their respective locations/communities. NTD Champions selected for this purpose will be trained on core aspects of NTD programming, research, and advocacy using the One Health approach and will volunteer their time to implement designated activities.
Key duties of NTD Champions
- Engage target LGA and community-level stakeholders on project deliverables to combat schistosomiasis and related NTDs.
- Collect research data in allocated LGAs and communities.
- Write and share stories on schistosomiasis (and other NTDs) from communities which will be published on the OHDI blog and social media platforms. (All writers, photos, and videos will be duly credited).
- Engage in media advocacy for combating NTDs in line with the NTD and SDG 2030 goals.
Eligibility
- Young persons aged 21 to 35 years
- Must be resident in any of the 6 south-western states – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti. (Living and active in a rural or peri-urban community is a plus)
- Must have a background and knowledge in related fields of public health and biological sciences such as Human Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Microbiology, Parasitology, and Agriculture.
- Past/current experience (full-time, volunteer, or internship) in a similar public/One health setting is highly desired.
- Must have good written and spoken communication skills.
- Must have a genuine passion and drive to make a positive impact at community levels.
Benefits
- This is a strict volunteer role; Selected NTD Champions would receive stipends for internet data subscription and transport for project activities.
- NTD Champions will receive tailored training on the One Health approach to combating NTDs, research processes, and advocacy.
- Opportunity for hands-on public health field experience in research implementation, data collection, advocacy, and community engagement.
- Opportunity to be a part of youth-led; youth-driven movement and coalition-building on combating NTDs in Nigeria.
- Certificate of Participation
The application deadline is July 24, 2021
