Country: Sierra Leone
Closing date: 01 Feb 2019
Context
Solthis is an international medical NGO which contributes to the strengthening of health systems to improve the access to quality care in countries with limited resources and/or with the vulnerable populations. Solthis is registered and has been operating in Sierra Leone since 2011 where our teams have been providing comprehensive technical support at both health facility, national and community levels to improve quality of HIV care.
By 2019, Solthis will work towards consolidating its interventions and operationalizing its strategy for long lasting development that relies on the principle of non-substitution**.** In particular, Solthis will implement the second phase of the “Empower Project” which aims to empower users for improved quality of patient-centred HIV Care & Services. This right-based approach project relies on the recognition that strengthening both the demand and supply side of Health Services is the key for success. Our interventions seek to strengthen and build capacity at the national level, health facility level and the community level. Our key partners are the Network of HIV Positives in Sierra Leone (NETHIPS) for the Civil Society component, the National Aids Secretariat and the National Aids/HIV Control Program (NACP) for the medical one. In 2019, Solthis will also enter into a partnership with ACF (Action against Hunger) with the purpose of streamlining HIV in their project focused on RMNACH quality of care improvement.
General responsibilities
Based in Freetown and under the responsibility of the Medical Coordinator, the Medical Officer main responsibilities are: (1) the provision of capacity building to health care workers (HCW) involved in HIV medical care in order to improve their ability to care, treatment and follow up HIV patients; (2) the implementation of other medical-related and transversal activities in the different regions of the country in line with Solthis strategy, policies and principles.
He/She maintains effective working relationship with the other Medical Team members to ensure coherence and proper coordination of medical activities. When required, he/she also participate in the implementation of community oriented activities of the HIV Program, in close collaboration with the Community team.
He/She facilitates cohesive and supportive collaboration between the health facility teams and Solthis teams, building confidence and teamwork among those involved.
Specific Tasks and responsibilities
Technical Support to national and district coordination bodies and representation of Solthis expertise at national Level
Provide technical, supervisory and programmatic support to NAS/NACP in the elaboration and updates of national HIV guidelines, recommendations, strategies, SOPs related to HIV Treatment and Care.
Give support to District Health Management Team (DHMT) to ensure the integration of HIV in their routine activities
Contribute to the establishment of a Steering Committee for the Empower Project and participate/animate committee meetings to ensure commitment of national partners for transition and/or scaling of the project best-practices.
Represent Solthis and attend coordination meetings relevant to programs
Contribute to Solthis’ advocacy based on a right-based approach, in favor of free access to quality HIV care & services for all, free of stigma and discrimination
HIV Care Quality improvement (QI) & Capacity building of healthcare workers
Organize & animate workshops on Quality improvement:
Include health facilities management teams, DHMT and NACP representatives in quality improvement & monitoring
Provide onsite guidance and support to improve quality and organization of care and promote involvement of all stakeholders
Support for the organization of care: drafting standard care procedures, ART dispensation based on Differentiated Care Model , re-organization of the patient flow, involvement of health mediators, re-organization of the system of consultations and file archiving, implementation of Post Exposure Prophylaxis System.
Ensure Implementation by HCWs/DHMT/NACP and follow up of the road map for improved quality of care by the health facilities.
Build the capacity of the Health Care Workers with respect to counseling, testing, diagnosis, prophylaxis, care and treatment of HIV, OI management, TB/HIV co-infection, dispensing & adherence support, data management & analysis:
Conduct trainings needs assessment of HCWs and build a training plan
Development of training program and didactic materials for HCWs
Organize and conduct classroom and/or on-site trainings, post training follow-up, internship placements, clinical mentoring
Participate in the evaluation of training and reporting activities
Provide clinical mentoring including support for data management and analysis
Conduct Joint-supportive supervision with National Coordinators, District Management Teams and/or National Trainers.
Build the capacity of national trainers with respect to training technics and to comprehensive HIV care:
Support national trainers in organizing and conducting training (from selecting participants to report drafting and post-training plan follow-up)
Mentor and evaluate national trainers on different aspects of trainings
Participate in training other actors according to identified needs (associations, community, District Management teams…)
Contribute to the involvement and coordination of all HCWs from various units at the supported sites (Maternity, Labour, Pharmacy, TB, nutrition, under 5 clinics…)
Monitoring and Evaluation/ Project Reporting
Participate in defining, follow-up and reporting of project indicators related to medical activities: designing and monitoring of tools, quality data-collection and data-analysis
Elaborate monthly report and submit to the medical coordinator
Participate in the annual reporting as well as to donor reporting
Participate in the elaboration of research protocols
Human Resources Management and Supervision
Provide direct supervision of the eMTCT Officer
Set the objectives, follow up and assessment for eMTCT activities across all sites
Coordinate activities between the different team members with respect to implementation of eMTCT activities.
Other activities
Maintain effective working Relationships with all members of the team, involved in the same project and others
Assist Head of Mission and Medical Coordinator in fundraising and/or expanding/developing new programs
Qualifications and skills:
Medical doctor with strong experience in (at least 2 years) and interest for HIV/AIDS
Knowledge in public health and in clinical research
Experience in resource-limited settings would be an asset
Experience in training and mentoring and supervision of staff
Experience in team management, ability to work in multi-cultural teams
Fluent English
Conditions:
Location : Freetown, Sierra Leone
Contract duration : for 1 year (with possibility of extension for the duration of the project)
Starting date : 1st of March
Salary: according to professional experience + package (medical and repatriation insurance, shared transport, monthly living and housing allowances)
How to apply:
Please send your application in English (CV, cover letter, references, dates of availability) to recrutement@solthis.org, quoting reference “HIV Medical Officer”, by February 1st, 2019.
Solthis reserves the right to close any vacancy before the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding.