PMTCT Field Officer
Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) is an indigenous NGO established under non-governmental organization act No 24 of 2002 in 2011. THPS works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOHCDGEC) and Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Ministry of Health (MoH) in Zanzibar with a goal of ensuring accessible high-quality health care services to Tanzanians; through strengthening of health and community systems for comprehensive quality health services including HIV/AIDS; Tuberculosis; prevention of GBV; reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health (RMNHCAH) services; laboratory and health management information systems (HIMS).
THPS, has been awarded by CDC/PEPFAR to implement the five (5) years project AFYA HATUA (Sustain Treatment, Enrolment and HIV Prevention- STEP). Through AFYA HATUA, THPS will deliver client centered, comprehensive facility and community-based HIV prevention, care, and treatment services for general, key and vulnerable populations in Pwani, Kigoma and Shinyanga regions, and contribute to the country’s epidemic control. Based on the Government of Tanzania’s (GoT) National Multisectoral Strategic Framework (NMSF) IV, Health Sector HIV Strategic Plan (HSHSP) IV, and PEPFAR COP21 priorities, AFYA HATUA will extend best practices and lessons learned from THPS’s 10+ years of implementing HIV programs in Tanzania. THPS will partner with all LGAs in the 3 regions, faith-based health facilities, and community-based, key population (KP)-led organizations to achieve the project goals.
THPS is currently seeking highly experienced, committed and motivated Tanzanians to fill in vacant positions for AFYA HATUA project in Dar es salaam HQ, and Shinyanga Regions:
Job Title: PMTCT Field Officer
Direct Reports to Regional Program Manager
Location Shinyanga Region with filed travel up to 80%
Job Summary:
The Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission Field Officer (PMTCT-FO) will serve as THPS focal point for activities related to PMTCT program in the allocated Districts in Shinyanga Region. This will include capacity building of health facility staff, establishment and monitoring of support groups for the pregnant/postpartum women, HIV positive women and their families, coordination of care and treatment within facilities providing PMTCT services including standalone PMTCT sites, ensuring drugs and supplies for PMTCT services are available, support strategies to foster adherence and retention among pregnant and lactating women enrolled in all supported sites. Development of linkages to other services including psychosocial support groups the laboratory services as well as community support services. This position is part of a multidisciplinary, cohesive team and requires excellent communication skills and extensive travel.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the District Managers and Regional teams to jointly implement the PMTCT work plan.
- Conduct joint focused supportive supervision with CHMT members to the sites to oversee program implementation of the PMTCT services i.e. identifying gaps and collaborating with the THPS and facility staff to find solutions.
- Provide direct, onsite support to nurses and clinical officers working at RCH units in THPS supported districts to establish and strengthen services and provide ongoing mentoring and support to implement the current National PMTCT guideline
- Coordinate and monitor early infant diagnosis (EID) services for all identified HIV exposed infants and ensure results timely communicated.
- Oversee HIV viral load monitoring among HIV pregnant women in the PMTCT program
- Develop linkages between various HIV programs and community-based organizations within the region.
- Work with health facility staff and HIV positive pregnant/postpartum women to establish and monitor the facility based Psychosocial Support Groups (PSG’s) for PMTCT
- Ensure M&E & IEC materials and job aids are available at every PMTCT site.
- Review and maintain a resource binder (resource mapping) of current PMTCT information for Health care worker education purposes and referral resources.
- Help facility staff own the data through improving preparation and make use of PMTCT monthly summary reports.
- Assist in data collection from the health facility if needed Reporting to specified levels.
- Establish and maintain a strong relationship with health facility staff delivering PMTCT services in districts.
- Working closely with CHMT ensure timely ordering, stocking and supply of PMTCT and Family planning supplies to PMTCT sites.
- Prepare and timely submit site visit reports, ensuring observed issues which need immediate intervention are communicated immediately upon return from the field.
- Ensure the optimal standard of counselling is achieved by ensuring the use of national guidelines and protocols.
- Ensure proper documentation of activities using appropriate national HTS, PMTCT/EID data collection tools for accurate record keeping and timely reporting.
- Review partners’ reports and develop quarterly reports and submit to regional office for further proceedings.
- Assist in the development of community linkages and support groups for HIV positive mothers and their families to ensure a network of quality care.
- Work closely with THPS M&E team to ensure monthly reporting of HTS, PMTCT and EID indicators.
- Facilitate establishment/strengthening adequate outreaches or mobile HTC service whenever needed.
- In collaboration with Pharmacy and laboratory teams facilitate monitoring and supportive supervision on logistics management.
- Support Health Care Providers (HCPs), Peer Educators (PE) and other relevant actors in the region to implement protocols on adherence support for pregnant and lactating women on PMTCT Program
- Take part in design, training and distribution of relevant job aides and materials related to PMTCT, HTC.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor Qualifications, experience & skills required
- Degree in Medicine, or Nursing or equivalent from recognized Universities.
- Training on HIV care and treatment, PMTCT, HIV/AIDS counseling and community-based PLHIV groups.
- At least three years working experience in HIV and AIDS care and treatment program including HIV care and treatment, PMTCT and HIV/AIDS counseling.
- Experience in working with community-based PLHIV groups or PLHIV post-test groups.
- Familiarity with health systems in Tanzania is highly desired.
- Ability to work independently with strong problem-solving skills.
- Computer literacy in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are required
- Excellent oral communication and writing skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in a team setting
- Willingness and preparedness to travel domestically for at least 75% of the time
How to apply;
Interested applicants should send an email recruitment@thps.or.tz attaching their application cover letter one page maximum and CV four pages maximum by November 28th 2021 with a position title as a subject line, for example:”PMTCT Field Officer”.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. Please do not attach any certificates when submitting online.
THPS is an equal opportunity employer; women, people living with HIV/AIDS and people living with disability are encouraged to apply.