Pro-Health International was founded in 1991 by four medical professionals: Drs. Mark Umoh, Efem Iyeme, Owido Udofia, and Iko Ibanga, who were concerned about taking free, quality healthcare to rural communities in Africa where easy access to healthcare was a challenge. For Iko Ibanga, Pro-Health International was a culmination of past desires and experiences.
During the Nigerian civil war, malnourished, impoverished and sick refugees passed through his hometown of Uruk Uso in a steady stream and x year old Iko sought to alleviate their suffering. At every opportunity, he would gather bits and pieces of food that were available in the house and share with the refugees. His mother usually reprimanded him for giving out too much food, but Iko always sought to do more. He determined that he would grow up to become a doctor and treat people for free.
As a medical intern, Iko Ibanga recalls a patient who could not pay his bills and was detained in the hospital. While trying to negotiate the release of this patient, a fellow doctor said to him, “If it bothers you so much, why don’t you go out there and treat them for free?” These words kept him awake all night and his childhood desires re-surfaced.
This desire was heightened when he met Dr. Bob Schoffstall, an American missionary and general surgeon, who inspired and encouraged him to volunteer on his first medical mission. Dr. Ibanga’s experiences influenced him to start an organization that would deliver quality healthcare in rural areas without cost to the recipients. The organization would also encourage Nigerian healthcare professionals to provide healthcare services voluntarily.
The heart of Pro-Health International’s work is to bring quality healthcare to the communities where easy access to healthcare is a challenge. Majority of these communities are located in rural areas. The lack of access to healthcare, either through hard-to-navigate geographical terrains, lack of facilities, finances or knowledge of their need for proper healthcare, contributes significantly to the poor health indices recorded in many African communities.
Since inception, Pro-Health International has grown into an international family of over 3000 volunteer healthcare professionals fulfilling the vision to improve the health of Africa’s people – especially those who live in the rural areas – at little or no cost to the recipients, and with the love of Christ.
Pro-Health International has come a long way from its first 3-day healthcare outreach where 3 doctors saw 300 patients and carried out 15 surgeries. We have grown from 2-3 medical missions annually to executing about 25 medical missions yearly in Nigeria and Africa.Overall Purpose of the Role
The position is essential to facilitate access to services through the referral system, sexual and gender-based violence prevention, protection monitoring, and awareness-raising.
S/he will ensure the quality of the planning, implementation, and follow-up on all aspects of sector activities being implemented on the SPADs project.
S/he will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders, and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of the protection activities on the SPADs project.
The ProtectionMonitoring Officer will be responsible for supervising the protection activities and team in his/her areas of responsibility.
Primary Responsibilities
Program quality and implementation:
Ensure the development and quality implementation of all protection activities at the field level in accordance with the agreed work plan (under the supervision of the protection manager) and the international standards.
Ensure the management/recruitment of the field protection casual workers (team and work management)
Conducting needs and programmatic assessments in targeted locations as agreed upon with the manager
Liaise with humanitarian actors to lobby for services for beneficiaries through bilateral or multi-lateral engagement.
Ensure all protection cases are documented in appropriate forms – referrals, individual case forms, captured on Kobo, and protection dashboard. Ensure all hard copies are stored securely and in appropriate filing systems as per DRC standards in coordination with the PIM Specialist.
Ensure vulnerable persons, persons with disability, women, girls, UAMs, and other vulnerable children are included in the programming
Follow up on all protection-related complaints and conduct protection concern verification and referrals where appropriate.
Engage with communities directly and create awareness on protection mainstreaming, protection principles, human rights, child protection, SGBV, CFM, gender and age diversity inclusion throughout the project period.
Carry out protection risk assessments, and protection monitoring activities as advised by the line manager and coordinator.
Identify protection trends and bring this to the attention of the line manager for action planning
Carry out advocacy and sensitization activities at the field level
Carry out any delegated activities as assigned by DRC management at the field level including supervision of field bases.
Support the state program manager with itinerary planning for field visits including donor visits.
Provide detailed updates of activities within your designated field site
Minimuin Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Law, Human Rights, Social Work, or a related field with a minimum of 7 years of experience in protection monitoring, especially in IDP settings.
Strong knowledge of international protection frameworks (UNHCR Protection Principles, IHL, GBV, and Child Protection protocols) and human rights laws affecting displaced populations.
Experience in documenting human rights violations, identifying protection risks, and advocating for the rights of IDPs.
Proven ability to design and conduct protection assessments, ensure referrals, and coordinate response mechanisms for at-risk individuals.
Experience working with government agencies, UN bodies, and NGOs to strengthen protection interventions in displacement contexts.
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