HIV Testing Services (HTS) Technical Advisor

HIV Testing Services (HTS) Technical Advisor

Job Title : HIV Testing Services (HTS) Technical Advisor

Job openings : 01

Locations : Douala

Reports to : Director of Clinical Services

Start date : April 1, 2019

Applications Due: March 17, 2019

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a global leader in the fight against pediatric HIV and AIDS, working in 19 countries and at over 5,500 sites around the world to prevent the transmission of HIV to children, and to help those already infected.

The Foundation’s global mission is to implement HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs; further advance innovative research; and to execute strategic and targeted global advocacy activities to bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children, and families worldwide. For more information, please, visit our page: www.pedaids.org.

With funding from CDC/PEPFAR Cameroon for the Atteindre95 project, EGPAF is seeking to recruit supporting the Ministry of Public Health and the Government of Cameroon to scale-up HIV Testing Services (HTS) to ensure that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, that 95% of them are initiated on ART, and that 95% of those on ART are virally suppressed. EGPAF is also supported by other donors such as Unitaid to implement innovative approaches for Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV and catalysing Pediatric Tuberculosis services.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Clinical Services, the HIV Testing Services (HTS) Technical Advisor is responsible for providing overall leadership, coordination and management for the implementation of high-quality HTS across all EGPAF supported sites in Cameroon. She/he will provide technical oversight and capacity building to EGPAF Staffs and health care workers in supported sites to assure delivery of quality, relevant and quantifiable services. S/he will develop strategies to guide rollout of Targeted PITC, Index Case testing, Self-testing, and Early Infant Diagnosis in supported sites.

The HTS advisor is responsible for guiding HTS Project officers through imparting technical direction and technical assistance to establish and strengthen implementation of integrated and comprehensive prevention activities, support systems strengthening, improve quality of HTS/Linkage

Key Responsibilities

· Provide technical support and ensure provision of quality HIV Testing Services (HTS) in EGPAF supported facilities;

· Conduct supportive mentorship visits to all EGPAF supported sites implementing HTS including targeted PITC, index case testing, early infant diagnosis, and HIV-Self Testing;

· Work jointly with HTS Officers and all the site level staff to ensure provision of quality HIV testing services;

· In liaison with the Supply chain and Lab interface coordinator, support facilities in monitoring and tracking (on a monthly basis) of Rapid Test Kits (RTKs), and other supplies necessary for HTS delivery;

· Strengthen index client testing within supported facilities and know your family/partner status initiatives;

· Participate in joint HTS supportive supervision visits together with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders;

· Strengthen facility and community bidirectional referral and linkages;

· Ensure that health facilities are adhering to quality control practices such as proficiency; testing and sit-in observations;

· Ensure facilities do have adequate HTS Standard Operating procedures and algorithms;

· Participate in SIMS assessment visits and follow up remediation as is required;

· Provide technical support and guidance in documenting and scaling up promising HTS practices in EGPAF supported districts;

· Conduct ongoing training needs assessment and facilitation of the various HTS trainings;

· Develop and monitor the implementation of the capacity building plan (in terms of training, mentorship and coaching) at supported health facilities;

· Lead development of annual, quarterly and monthly HTS strategies and work plans;

· Conduct monthly HTS data analysis and compile timely reports to ensure real time data use for decision making at facility level and progress towards project targets;

· Represent EGPAF in TWGs and other task force meetings related to HTS accordingly;

· Contributes to development of lessons learned from the project and other relevant projects that are related to HTS and apply these lessons to modify and improve the project;

· Contributes to the development of program strategies, subproject documents, work plans and budgets, with a special focus on ensuring HTS incorporated.

· Prepares the monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports for prevention & Testing;

· Working closely with the QA/QI Officer, participate in site assessment, follow up on identified gaps and implementation of interventions including formation of Quality Improvement Teams and re-assessment of progress;

· Working with other Teams within the project, identify opportunities for integration including, formation of and supporting Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs), community-facility linkages and assist in documentation of successes, best practices and challenges associated with such linkage and integration;

· Conduct other HTS duties delegated by the line manager from time to time.

Required qualifications

Medical Doctor/PhD in Nursing/PhD in Laboratory with at least 7 years of continuous HIV program implementation. Registration with the required regulatory bodies (Nursing council, Medical Council, and Laboratory Council) is mandatory . Being a National Certified HTS trainer is a key advantage. A Master’s degree in Public health or other related degree is a distinct advantage. Fluency in French is required. orking knowledge of English is a distinct advantage.

Required competencies, skills and experience

· Experience in managing a large, diverse and dynamic team of health professionals providing integrated HIV Testing, care and treatment services;

· Experience in establishing and sustaining working relationships with the Ministry of Public Health at National, Regional, District, and health providers at site level;

· Significant and up to date knowledge of the current HTS, ART and PMTCT guidelines, standards, tools and best practices. Up to date knowledge of general HIV management is a pre-requisite;

· Demonstrated experience in organizing and facilitating mentorship and capacity building in HTS and HIV service areas;

· Thorough knowledge of PEPFAR Program and MOH/NACC reporting requirements including familiarity with the data collection and reporting tools used by MOH/NACC;

· Proficiency in computer basic skills- MS Office; Internet; Basic data analysis skills;

· Self- managed, self-driven, results oriented individual with excellent communication, interpersonal, report writing and analytical skills;

· Dedicated team player with ability and experience to work in a multidisciplinary team.

· Creativity/Innovation – Develops new insights into situations; questions conventional approaches; encourages new ideas and innovations; designs and implements new or cutting edge programs/processes.

· Developing Others – Developing others is a person’s ability to perform and contribute to the organization by providing ongoing feedback and by providing opportunities to learn through formal and informal methods.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit a CV and cover letter through the following link: https://chj.tbe.taleo.net/chj05/ats/careers/searchResults.jsp?org=PEDAIDS&cws=1

Screening of applications will be on a rolling basis. Please note that only shortlisted applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted.

Applications are only acceptable through the above link.

This position is subject to donor funding.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, EGPAF complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Foundation has facilities.