The Consultant Pediatrician (Child Health Specialist) will deliver comprehensive outpatient clinical care, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive child health services. The role involves managing acute and chronic paediatric conditions, ensuring compliance with Ministry of Health (MOH) and Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) guidelines, and providing caregiver guidance and counselling.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Clinical Examination, Diagnosis & Treatment
- Conduct thorough clinical examinations of newborns, infants, children, and adolescents to assess growth, developmental milestones, and overall health.
- Diagnose and manage acute and chronic paediatric conditions within the established outpatient scope of practice.
- Provide evidence-based medical treatment in line with Ministry of Health Kenya paediatric protocols, IMCI guidelines, KMPDC standards, and the Essential Medicines List.
Patient History, Care Pathways & Follow-Up
- Document comprehensive medical and family histories through empathetic engagement with parents and legal guardians.
- Identify and establish care pathways for congenital, developmental, infectious, behavioural, and chronic paediatric conditions.
- Ensure continuity of care through structured follow-up, monitoring, and cross-functional case management.
Emergency Recognition, Stabilization & Referrals
- Provide early detection of paediatric red flags, initiate appropriate clinical stabilization, and coordinate timely external referrals where required.
- Facilitate clear referrals to appropriate specialists such as paediatric surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, ophthalmologists, ENT specialists, and other sub-specialists when necessary.
Preventive Child Health & Immunisation
- Prepare, cold-chain manage, and safely administer vaccines in compliance with the Kenya Expanded Program on Immunisation schedule.
- Review patient immunisation records to ensure alignment with national vaccination guidelines and support closure of immunisation gaps.
- Monitor growth parameters including weight, height, and head circumference, and support early identification of developmental delays or behavioural concerns.
Caregiver Education & Counselling
- Advise and counsel parents or guardians on paediatric nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding, disease prevention, hygiene practices, healthy lifestyles, treatment plans, and follow-up requirements.
Governance, Compliance & Systems Management
- Maintain accurate, secure, and up-to-date physical and electronic patient records within the EHR / HMIS system.
- Document clinical findings, diagnoses, medical events, drug allergies, vaccinations, and long-term follow-up plans accurately.
- Comply with KMPDC ethical guidelines, MOH protocols, IMCI guidelines, child protection requirements, and the Data Protection Act.
Clinical Quality & Public Health Reporting
- Participate in internal clinical audits, morbidity and mortality reviews, quality improvement activities, and patient safety initiatives.
- Support infection prevention and control, safe prescribing, rational use of medicines, and reporting of notifiable infectious diseases in line with Kenyan public health requirements.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) or equivalent medical degree from an institution recognized by KMPDC.
- Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health or equivalent postgraduate specialist qualification recognized by KMPDC.
- Valid and current specialist practicing license with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council.
- Valid professional indemnity insurance cover.
- Minimum 3–5 years’ clinical experience practicing as a specialist paediatrician in a busy outpatient, multispecialty centre, or specialized child health unit.
- Demonstrated experience using Hospital Management Information Systems, Electronic Health Records, and computerized ordering modules.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong paediatric diagnostic, clinical assessment, and treatment planning skills.
- Excellent knowledge of paediatric drug dosing, pharmacology, and safe prescribing.
- Strong understanding of MOH child health policies, IMCI guidelines, public health reporting, and immunisation standards.
- Compassionate and patient-focused communication skills when engaging children, parents, and caregivers.
- Ability to recognize paediatric red flags, provide stabilization, and coordinate urgent referrals.
- Strong multidisciplinary teamwork across nursing, laboratory, nutrition, and specialist clinical teams.
- High professional integrity, clinical accountability, confidentiality, and commitment to child protection.
