Community Health Officer – Koidu, Sierra Leone

Join Partners In Health as a Community Health Officer in Koidu

Company: Partners In Health (PIH)
Location: Koidu
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Clinical / Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Job Title: Community Health Officer (X2)
Reports To: OWBGYN Lead
Requisition Number: 27
Industry: Healthcare, Public Health, Neonatal Care, Clinical Services

About the Organization

Partners In Health (PIH) is a globally recognized healthcare and social justice organization committed to improving access to quality healthcare for underserved populations. Operating in 11 countries, PIH works closely with governments and communities to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes.

In Sierra Leone, PIH collaborates with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to strengthen maternal and newborn healthcare through the Maternal Center of Excellence (MCOE) at Koidu Government Hospital.

This role is ideal for candidates interested in community health officer jobs in Sierra Leone, hospital jobs, clinical healthcare careers, neonatal nurse jobs, public health jobs, and NICU healthcare opportunities.

For insights into employment opportunities and healthcare careers in Sierra Leone, visit: health officer job in Sierra Leone

Job Summary

Partners In Health is seeking qualified and compassionate Community Health Officers (CHO) to join the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team at KGH/MCOE in Koidu.

The successful candidate will work as a frontline neonatal clinician, supporting safe and evidence-based care for newborns under the supervision of a Neonatologist or Paediatrician. The position focuses on neonatal assessment, emergency care, infection prevention, clinical documentation, and stabilization of critically ill newborns.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for professionals seeking careers in newborn care, maternal health services, medical officer jobs, and clinical healthcare in Sierra Leone.

Key Job Responsibilities

Neonatal Clinical Care

The Community Health Officer will:

• Conduct initial clinical assessments of neonates during triage and admission.
• Participate in routine NICU ward rounds and maintain accurate clinical records.
• Diagnose and manage common neonatal conditions including:
  • Neonatal sepsis
  • Birth asphyxia
  • Prematurity and low birth weight
  • Neonatal jaundice
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Respiratory distress
  • Feeding complications
• Initiate treatment plans according to approved NICU protocols.
• Prescribe medications within approved clinical guidelines.
• Perform neonatal stabilization for critically ill newborns before physician intervention.
• Provide basic neonatal resuscitation during deliveries or emergency admissions.

Clinical Documentation & Patient Records

• Maintain complete and accurate patient files.
• Record admission details, treatment plans, progress notes, and procedures performed.
• Participate in clinical audits and healthcare quality improvement activities.
• Ensure proper documentation supports continuity of neonatal care.

Escalation & Referral Management

• Escalate emergency neonatal conditions to paediatricians or medical specialists promptly.
• Coordinate referral procedures to higher-level medical facilities when required.
• Support stabilization before patient transfer to ensure continuity of care.

Neonatal Procedures & Technical Support

The CHO will be expected to competently:

• Perform or assist with neonatal resuscitation
• Conduct intravenous cannulation
• Assist in emergency neonatal interventions
• Support bedside clinical procedures in NICU settings

Infection Prevention & Control

• Follow strict infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures.
• Maintain aseptic techniques during all patient care activities.
• Support hand hygiene compliance and patient isolation protocols.
• Participate in infection surveillance and healthcare-associated infection monitoring.

Healthcare professionals exploring opportunities across African healthcare systems may also review: health officer job in Ghana

Education Requirements

Applicants should possess:

Essential Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Community Health
• Valid professional registration with the relevant regulatory authority
• Certification in Basic Neonatal Resuscitation

Preferred Additional Training

Additional certifications or training in:

• Newborn care
• Emergency healthcare
• Neonatal intensive care
• Infection prevention and control
• Maternal and child health

Experience Requirements

Candidates with previous experience in:

• Neonatal healthcare
• Hospital clinical care
• Maternal and child health
• NICU support services
• Community health services

will have an added advantage.

Fresh graduates with strong neonatal clinical exposure and required certifications may also be considered based on competency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Clinical Competencies

• Neonatal assessment and diagnosis
• Recognition of neonatal emergencies
• Neonatal resuscitation techniques
• Infection prevention practices
• Emergency patient stabilization

Professional Skills

• Strong teamwork and collaboration abilities
• Excellent clinical documentation skills
• Good written and verbal communication
• Ethical patient care and professionalism
• Attention to detail and patient safety focus

Personal Attributes

• Compassionate and patient-centered approach
• Ability to work under pressure in emergency clinical settings
• Strong commitment to healthcare quality standards
• Respect for diversity and ethical workplace conduct

Salary & Employee Benefits

Salary: Competitive healthcare salary package (Not publicly disclosed)

Additional benefits may include:

• Professional medical training opportunities
• Exposure to advanced neonatal healthcare systems
• Career growth in public health and maternal care
• Mentorship from experienced paediatric specialists
• International NGO healthcare experience

Training & Professional Development

Successful candidates will receive:

• Safeguarding and workplace ethics training
• Infection prevention and control training
• Neonatal intensive care mentoring
• Emergency newborn care development
• Clinical safety and quality improvement training

Healthcare professionals interested in broader regional healthcare careers can also explore: health officer job in Zambia

Safeguarding & Compliance

Partners In Health Sierra Leone is committed to maintaining a safe and ethical work environment. Successful applicants will undergo:

• Reference verification
• Background screening
• Criminal record checks
• Safeguarding assessments
• Misconduct disclosure screening

All staff are expected to uphold organizational safeguarding policies and professional ethical standards.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their application through the official PIH employment portal

Applicants must include:

• Updated CV/Resume
• Contact details of three (3) professional referees

Application Deadline: 12:00 PM GMT, December 10, 2026

Why Join Partners In Health?

This role offers an opportunity to make a direct impact on maternal and newborn survival while building a rewarding career in clinical healthcare, community health officer careers, hospital jobs in Sierra Leone, NICU clinical care, public health employment, and medical healthcare services.

Keywords Naturally Covered: community health officer jobs in Sierra Leone, healthcare jobs in Koidu, hospital jobs, neonatal care jobs, NICU jobs, public health careers, maternal health jobs, newborn care specialist, clinical officer jobs, healthcare assistant jobs, neonatal resuscitation careers, medical jobs in Sierra Leone, child health services, healthcare NGO jobs, patient care jobs, infection prevention jobs, emergency healthcare jobs, hospital clinical services, community medical jobs, healthcare careers in Africa.