Western Provincial Health Office is Currently Recruiting in Zambia

DISTRICT CLINICAL TB/HIV MENTORS (DCM) – (04) (MONGU, LIMULUNGA, SESHEKE AND MULOBEZI DISTRICTS

Background

Western Province has made significant progress in scaling-up antiretroviral treatment (ART) towards epidemic control. The Zambia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) 2016 report shows that Western Province has the HIV prevalence at 15.9% in the ages 15-59 years with 47.3% viral suppression in Zambia. Significant age and gender gaps exist in males between the age groups of 20-24 and 25-29 and females in the age groups 15-24 and 25-34. Further, TB and cryptococcosis are significant causes of mortality among PLHIV. Inadequate capacities among HC/Ps to ensure the quality of care remains a major concern necessitating the importance of clinical mentors to ensure quality service provision at a facility level.

WPHO, with support from PEPFAR through CDC, is rolling out Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to selected ART sites in the province. Project ECHO is a novel tool for clinical mentorship and training which allows experts in HIV management to routinely share best practices for HIV care and treatment with healthcare workers throughout Zambia via a virtual learning network.

Scope of work

The District Clinical TB/HIV Mentor (DCM) will be responsible for improving HIV/TB clinical care cascade focusing on meeting targets for epidemic control and improving quality of HIV/TB services provided at all sites in the district. The mentor will work with Clinical Care teams at the district level to achieve excellence in ART sites. In order to achieve this, the mentor will spend the majority of their time providing site level mentorship in the district.

Key Duties

• District Clinical Mentors will ensure delivery of quality TB and HIV services in the districts;
• Work with District Clinical Care teams to establish centers of excellence in the district;
• Perform timely and regular analyses of site-level performance of every site in their assigned district(s) with special attention to highest impact sites with support from Monitoring & Evaluation team;
• Responsible for finding creative solutions to challenges identified at sites within their assigned district(s);
• Work with District Clinical Care teams to provide targeted and data-driven clinical mentorship to TB/HIV treatment staff for both adult and pediatric care services, including PMTCT in health facilities and monitoring of improvement in services;
• Work with district Laboratory Focal Point Persons to ensure effective implementation of the intra-district specimen courier system while ensuring transportation of VL samples to the molecular Laboratories;
• Ensure that laboratory results are documented in patients’ records and virally unsuppressed clients registered for timely referral to the District Medical HIV mentor;
• Provide technical support and supervision in initiating and improving ongoing clinical care for patients receiving treatment for OIs, TB, HIV, and PMTCT as well as post-operative care for VMMC clients;
• Works with Clinic Staff to identify and carry out Quality Improvement projects;
• Work with pharmacists to ensure the supply chain of commodities is not interrupted;
• Ensuring provision and health worker adherence to TB/HIV SOPs, algorithms and guidelines in supported sites;
• Provide technical support to service delivery teams at facility and community levels in order to increase and improve access to care, case identification and retention in care as well as improvement in treatment outcomes especially viral load suppression;
• Provide technical support for the establishment of site-level patient flow patterns, cougher prioritization to ensure effective infection control;
• Provide technical support for effective referral of tuberculosis and HIV patients from communities to facilities and vice versa and assist to develop systems for patient tracking and feedback at both facility and community levels in the district;
• Actively participate in supporting efforts aimed at accelerating differentiated Service Delivery at facility and community levels;
• Participate in all TB/HIV Technical Meetings at facility and district levels and provide updates as required;
• Participate in identification of training gaps in TB/HIV at both community and health facility levels in the district;
• Assist sites to develop remedial measures and implementation of PHO monitoring and SIMS recommendations;
• Provide technical support to health facilities with low PT results and assist sites to develop remediation measures;
• Compile weekly, monthly, quarterly as well as annual ad-hoc reports as required in the required formats and;
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required Expertise and Qualifications

• Grade 12 certificate with at least five O- level credits;
• Diploma in Clinical Medical Sciences (General) from a reputable institution;
• At least three (3) years of relevant work experience in the field of TB and HIV control activities;
• Experience as a TB/HIV service provider at the health facility will be an added advantage;
• Basic training in TB/HIV, HIV management for both adults and pediatrics and/or PMTCT;
• Registered with the Health Professions Council of Zambia with a valid practicing license;
• Computer literate, with high competency in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Experience in PEPFAR supported TB/HIV activities will be an added advantage;
• A clear understanding of the reporting hierarchy at district and facility levels;
• Good Communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to uphold Confidentiality and Integrity;
• Trustworthy and Honest.

Reporting, Supervision & Performance Evaluation

• The incumbent will report to Senior Clinical Care Officers in their respective districts with a technical interaction with District Medical Mentor;
• Form part of the District Clinical Care team;
• The performance will be evaluated by the Senior Clinical Care Officers in the district in consultation with the Program Officers at PHO.

Instruction for Submission of Applications

Only candidates who meet the above specifications and competencies should apply enclosing their detailed CVs, photocopies of professional and academic qualifications by 7th September 2018. Clearly specify the location and positions being applied for. Be sure to indicate that you are applying for the position under WPHO/CDC CoAg.

Address all applications to:
The Provincial Health Director
Western Provincial Health Office,
Independence Road,
Plot No. 4503
P.O Box 910022,
Mongu – Zambia

Or send by email to [email protected] indicating the position being applied for in the subject.

Only shortlisted candidates will be communicated to.

WPHO/CDC CoAg is an equal opportunity employer