Provincial Paediatric ART Coordinator at Eastern Provincial Health Office

Ministry of Health

Provincial Health Office, Eastern Province

P.O Box 510023, Hospital Road, Chipata

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

OPEN TO: All Interested Candidates/All Sources

POSITION: Provincial Paediatric ART Coordinator (1 Position)

OPENING DATE: 7th July, 2019

CLOSING DATE: 20th July, 2019

WORK HOURS: Full-Time, 40 Hours/Week

SALARY: A competitive package will be offered to successful candidates on annual contract basis.

This is a highly technical and leadership position of the HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care & Support project under the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFAR) in Eastern Province based at the Provincial Health Office under the supervision of the Provincial Health Director. The jobholder will provide expert technical and leadership oversight and support in the province (Province, District, facility, and community) as needed to improve Paediatric HIV Case identification, linkage to treatment, retention, and viral suppression.

Specifically, the incumbent will be expected to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Work through existing MOH structures and systems to build the capacity of all health facilities in the province to provide quality Paediatric HIV services;
• S/he will support the technical staff serving under the project and other Ministry of Health staff and will review and monitor work plans and performance monitoring plans and provide timely feedback;
• S/he will work with other staff within the ministry functionaries to guide health facilities, tracking progress against performance indicators as part of the project’s Performance Monitoring Plan and semi-annual and annual portfolio review processes;
• The jobholder will work collaboratively with other staff within the ministry and project staff to build local capacity on implementation of special initiatives (e.g. Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD), and other HIV prevention, treatment, care and support strategies to improve Paediatric HIV services;
• S/he will work with the provincial, district, and hospital technical leads for HIV programs to plan and monitor implementation of activities and ensure that CDC-supported activities are responsive to the national strategies for the areas;
• The jobholder will be responsible for finding creative solutions to challenges identified at sites and Provide targeted and data-driven clinical mentorship to staff for pediatric care services, including PMTCT in health facilities and monitoring of improvement in services;
• The jobholder will be the paeds technical coordinator of Project ECHO and will utilize this platform to provide direct technical support and supervision in Paediatric HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and data management to all health facilities in their respective districts by: Participating in Tele ECHO sessions as facilitator and faculty (present didactics); Helping the facility In charge to select case presentations and recruit site healthcare providers to participate in Tele ECHO sessions; Supervision of Clinical Officer Mentors; and Serve as liaison between PHO and DHO as well as other implementing partners/stakeholders at the district level including community based organizations, on issues relating to the implementation of HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care and support activities under the project.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

The jobholder will be expected to deliver the following:

• Ensure that all support facilities are integrating EID in all EPI activities in order to optimize Paediatric HIV Case Identification (Missed Opportunities);
• Ensure that all high-volume support sites have EID Champions;
• Ensure that all support districts and facilities are following up and testing not less than 90% of Babies born to HIV positive mothers at all required age cohort intervals (birth, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18, months, and 24 months) and documenting outcomes;
• Ensure that all support districts and facilities are enlisting and testing (through index testing), not less than 90% of all children living with HIV positive parents/guardians in their respective catchment areas;
• Ensure that all supported districts and facilities are linking not less than 95% of HIV positive children to treatment services; Mop up all children identified in previous periods and link them to treatment services;
• Ensure that all supported districts and facilities are retaining in care & treatment, not less than 90% of children;
• Ensure that all supported districts and facilities are testing not less than 95% of eligible children on treatment for Viral Load and are achieving not less than 90% Viral Suppression;
• Identify and put on treatment, not less than 4,000 children by the end of September, 2020.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

EDUCATION: Medical Officer with Bachelors’ Degree (MBChB) or equivalent.

EXPERIENCE: A minimum of three years or more of progressively responsible, professional-level experience working in a similar undertaking with vast experience in Paediatric HIV Programming in a health/medical organization particularly providing Paediatric HIV treatment, care & support services is required.

LANGUAGE: Fluent in English, (speaking, writing and reading) is required. (English language proficiency will be tested).

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

Sound knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment, and public health service delivery programs and systems in Zambia; and a good understanding of Zambian social, cultural and political contexts is required.

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