Purpose of the Role:
The Mental Health and Disability Officer is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation, coordination, and monitoring of all mental health and disability services within the BPHS framework, in line with the standards and guidelines of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). The role aims to promote mental well-being, prevent and manage common mental health disorders, and support persons with disabilities through inclusive and community-based approaches.
This position ensures that health facilities and community health workers provide quality, evidence based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, integrate mental health and disability components into primary health care, and raise awareness to reduce stigma and discrimination. The officer also contributes to staff capacity building, data reporting, and coordination with related stakeholders to strengthen service delivery and referral systems.
B. Main Responsibilities of NCD, Mental Health, and Disability Officer
1. Program Planning and Coordination
- Support the development and implementation of NCDs, Mental Health, and Disability components within the BPHS/EPHS framework.
- Coordinate with provincial health directorate, implementing partners, and health facilities to ensure integration of NCD, mental health, and disability services in health facilities.
- Participate in health cluster, technical working groups, and coordination meetings.
- Contribute to annual and quarterly work plans and ensure alignment with MoPH and WHO strategic priorities.
- Ensure the implementation of the Mental Health and Disability components of BPHS in accordance with MoPH standards, guidelines, and protocols.
- Coordinate with provincial health offices, implementing partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen mental health and disability services at all levels.
- Support integration of mental health and disability services into routine primary health care delivery.
2. Service Delivery and Technical Support
- Provide technical guidance to health facilities on the prevention, early detection, management, and referral of NCDs (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, cancer, COPD).
- Support mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) service delivery at health facility level.
- Facilitate the integration of disability-inclusive approaches in health facility.
- Ensure standard case management, patient follow-up, and availability of essential medicines and supplies for NCD and mental health services.
- Support capacity building of facility staff in case identification, counselling, and community awareness.
- Monitor and ensure quality diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for patients with mental health conditions or disabilities.
- Promote the use of MoPH-approved mental health tools, guidelines, and reporting formats at all health facility levels.
- Support inclusive service provision for persons with physical or psychosocial disabilities and ensure accessibility of services.
3. Capacity Building and Training
- Identify training needs and organize refresher trainings for health workers on NCD, mental health, and disability management.
- Facilitate on-the-job mentoring, supervision, and coaching at health facilities.
- Promote use of WHO guidelines, standard treatment protocols, and reporting tools.
- Conduct regular on the job training for health facility staff, psychosocial counselors, and community health workers on mental health, psychosocial support, and disability inclusion.
- Provide technical supervision to health facility staff to ensure quality service delivery in line with MoPH protocols.
- Identify gaps in staff knowledge or practice and recommend appropriate training or refresher sessions.
4. Monitoring, Supervision, and Reporting
- Conduct regular supportive supervision visits to BPHS/EPHS facilities to monitor service quality and data accuracy.
- Collect, review, and analyze NCD, mental health, and disability indicators from HMIS/DHIS2 reports.
- Identify performance gaps and provide feedback or technical recommendations for improvement.
- Participate in joint monitoring visits with technical staff and stockholders.
- Support the development of improvement plans based on monitoring findings and feedback.
- Ensure compliance with MoPH performance standards and maintain a high level of service quality
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc progress reports and share them with project management and MoPH counterparts.
5. Community Awareness and Health Promotion
- Support community outreach and health education campaigns on prevention of NCDs (e.g., healthy lifestyle, nutrition, smoking cessation).
- Promote mental health awareness and stigma reduction at community level.
- Coordinate with community health supervisors (CHSs) and CHWs to ensure referral and follow-up of patients with chronic or mental health conditions.
- Monitor and ensure quality diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for patients with mental health conditions or disabilities.
- Promote the use of MoPH-approved mental health tools, guidelines, and reporting formats at all health facility levels.
- Support inclusive service provision for persons with physical or psychosocial disabilities and ensure accessibility of services.
6. Coordination and Partnership
- Liaise with WHO, MoPH’s NCD and Mental Health Departments, and other stakeholders for technical updates and alignment.
- Contribute to inter-sectoral collaboration, particularly with disability, rehabilitation, and social welfare actors.
- Participate in assessments, surveys, and evaluations related to NCDs and mental health.
7. Data Management, Reporting, and Documentation
- Collect case studies, success stories, and lessons learned to support program learning and donor reporting.
- Ensure data confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive mental health and disability information.
- Maintain proper documentation of all related activities, reports, and training materials.
- Ensure accurate collection, analysis, and reporting of mental health and disability data through the HMIS system.
- Prepare regular technical reports and share them with the provincial health directorate and MoPH as required.
- Document best practices, success stories, and lessons learned for program improvement.
8. Other Duties
- Perform any other related tasks assigned by the BPHS/EPHS Lead Project manager, Project technical Manager, or relevant technical supervisor.
- Support emergency response or outbreak management activities as required.
