UNDP Jobs - 22814- Clinical Mentors for HIV and TB/HIV (02 Positions

Clinical Mentors for HIV and TB/HIV (02 Positions)

Location :

Juba, SUDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2011

Application Deadline :

18-Apr-11 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

05 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was created to dramatically increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, and to direct those resources to areas of greatest need. Since this was founded in 2002, it has changed the way the world is working to defeat the three diseases. They has supported large scale prevention, treatment and care programmes against the three diseases. The attracts, manages and disburses resources in a public-private partnership that will make sustainable and significant contribution to the reduction of mortality and morbidity caused by the three major diseases and contributing to the achievement of millennium development goals. To date, 3 million people are receiving antiretroviral treatment, 7.7 million new cases of infectious tuberculosis detected and treated, and 160 million insecticide-treated netswere distributed to protect families from transmission

UNDP is a key partner to the Global Fund and is the UN Agency assuming the role of Principal Recipient (PR) of Global Fund grants in South Sudan. As PR for the Global Fund grants, assisting the country to meet its main goals in reducing mortality and morbidity from HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, UNDP South Sudan is responsible for the financial and programmatic management of the Global Fund grants as well as for the procurement of health and non health products. In all areas of implementation, it provides capacity development services to relevant national institutions, Sub-Recipients (SRs) and implementing partners. Currently, UNDP as PR bears full responsibility for the operational and financial management of six grants: Round 2 Malaria, Round 2 Tuberculosis, Round 7 Tuberculosis, Round 4 HIV/AIDS, Round 5 TB/HIV, and Round 9 HSS. UNDP South Sudan is currently managing the Global Fund funded portfolio of USD124, 214,079 for all six grants.

UNDP South Sudan is therefore planning to recruit two (2) Clinical Mentors to support the ART services across South Sudan. The ART services have been established through the Global Fund Round 4 HIV/AIDS and Round 5 TB/HIV grants.

The Round 4 HIV/AIDS grant aims to strengthen a coordinated South Sudan response to HIV/AIDS by building capacity at the GoSS, State and County levels, and supporting the scale up of comprehensive HIV/AIDS services (BCC/IEC, programmes for specific groups, VCT, ART, OIs, PMTCT, STIs case management, Blood Safety and Universal Precautions, and Surveillance). The project started on 1 August 2006 and will end on 31 July 2011.

The Round 5 TB/HIV grant aims at establishing mechanisms for collaboration between TB and HIV/AIDS programmes, decreasing the burden of TB in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and decreasing the burden of HIV/AIDS in TB patients. The key components of the project include the establishment of TB/HIV joint Technical Coordinating Units in the MoH-GoSS, organize national level TB/HIV planning meetings to review and evaluate progress, establish an Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) Unit, monitoring and evaluation of collaborative TB/HIV activities, increased TB case findings among PLWHA, provision of treatment for latent TB infection for HIV positive patients, and the provision of infection control services in health care settings and or congregate settings. The project started on 1 October 2006 and shall end on 30 September 2011.
Purpose:

As PR for the Round 4 HIV/AIDS and Round 5 TB/HIV grants, UNDP is working with the MoH GoSS and other partners in the scale-up of ART, and comprehensive and integrated HIV/AIDS services. To accomplish this task, UNDP is looking for two (2) dynamic and driven individuals to fill the positions of Clinical Mentors. The two Clinical Mentors will be based in the Ministry of Health Directorate for Community and Public Health, HIV/AIDS/STIs Unit and National TB Programme, and will be reporting to the Global Fund Programme in UNDP.

Key areas of mentorship include ART, VCT, PMTCT, STI, TB/HIV and community outreach services, drug supply management information system, HMIS for HIV, survey and surveillance, evaluation and assessment for HIV program.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Health Directorate for Community and Public Health, HIV/AIDS/STIs Unit and National TB Programme, UNDP TB/HIV Project Manager and M&E Specialist, the Clinical Mentors will provide direct technical support to national, state, county, and health facilities.

Specifically, he/she will:

Provide clinical mentoring to HIV treatment teams for both adult and pediatric care services and other relevant healthcare workers at selected health care facilities.
Provide clinical advice and assistance in initiating and improving ongoing clinical care for patients on OIs, ART and PMTCT .
Assist in the development of initial and continued medical education for all clinic staff, including formal didactic training, clinical mentorship and ward round management.
Lead the establishment activities of ART at the site-level, set-up of patient flow patterns, creation of Standard Operating Procedures and TORs for clinical and managerial staff in the health facility.
Assist ART sites to improve patient records, monthly, and quarterly reports.
Assist sites to improve the drug and test kits consumption, requisition report, and the overall drug supply management system.
Support sites in the optimal use of available resources including ARVs, diagnostics and treatments for opportunistic infections, etc.
Improve referral linkages among the departments within the facility and satellite facilities.
Encourage community-based support to ensure proper adherence and psychosocial support of patients.
Develop necessary tools to conduct the clinical mentorship.
Conduct quality assurance program for comprehensive HIV care and treatment programme.
Give expert technical support in planning and implementing integrated and comprehensive HIV M&E system to rollout the M&E function throughout the country.
Review HIV clinical and M&E training tools for the National HIV Program and roll out training at all level in country.
Develop standard operating procedures for both clinical and programmatic areas of HIV.
Facilitate routine data collection system in the HIV programme.
Perform any other duties as required.

Methodology:

The consultants will work closely with all partners working in HIV/AIDS South Sudan. They will be posted to field sites across South Sudan for specific periods of time and are expected to collaborate positively with partners in the field, government counterparts, local associations of People Living with HIV/AIDS and local communities.

Deliverables:

Clinical mentorship work plan.
Baseline clinical and programmatic assessment report on respective health facilities.
Technical assistance provided to health facilities, counties and states.
Site visit reports on clinical mentorship conducted at all levels.
Report on quality of care improved at health facilities supported by the Clinical Mentors.
Assistance provided to health facilities in relation to drug supply management system and HMIS.
Standard operational procedures developed and submitted on strengthening the HIV and TB/HIV programme.
Final evaluation report

Competencies

Professionalism:

Demonstrated ability in managing clinical mentorship programmes in post conflict environments.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to maintain flexibility in working hours.

Planning and Organizing:

Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate tasks to meet deadlines.

Teamwork:

Good interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with counterparts.

Communication:

Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally.

Skills:

Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, including cross-cultural communication.
Strong knowledge of computer applications such as Word, Excel and Outlook.
Strong organizational skills; ability to follow up on comprehensive HIV/AIDS interventions simultaneously.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Medical Doctor with a MPH or Medical doctor with minimum of 5 years clinical experience.

Experience:

Clinical experience in HIV/AIDS treatment and care required
Clinical mentorship experience in previous assignment more importantly s/he has been involved in the clinical care service with HIV (treating and counseling of HIV positive patients, experience in establishing anti retroviral treatment (ART) scale up programs, including grant implementation.
Minimum 2 years of multi-country experience in setting up ART clinical mentorship programs.
Excellent understanding of the WHO IMAI-based system of HIV/AIDS treatment.
Experience in pediatrics ART strongly preferred.
Good bedside manner and strong interpersonal skills.
Teaching or training experience preferred.
Experience in communicating with government and other high-level officials strongly preferred.

Language:

Ability to communicate proficiently both orally and in written English required.