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 (NAS) 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
In this context, the Medical Coordinator is the representative of the HIV medical and scientific expertise of Solthis in Sierra Leone, in field as diverse as management of adult & pediatrics HIV Care and Services, TB / HIV co-infection and other OI, PMTCT, ART, VL/EID testing, sexual & reproductive health, nutritional activities, and monitoring….
He/She is responsible for the implementation of the capacity-building activities of health care professionals and coordinating bodies, and of all the medical activities of the Solthis HIV programs. He/She maintains effective working relationship with the Civil Society Advisor to ensure coherence and proper coordination between both medical and community oriented activities of the HIV Program. He/She facilitates cohesive and supportive collaboration between the medical teams and community partners, building confidence and teamwork among those involved.
Based in Freetown and under the responsibility of the Head of Mission in SL and the Health Systems and Services Strengthening Director, [S1] he/she supervises the HIV medical team (3 Medical Officers, 2 PMTCT Officers and 1 Pharma-Lab Specialist). His/her main responsibilities are: (1) the provision of medical expertise to the national coordination bodies in the definition of national policies and protocols for the medical care of PLHIVs; (2) the coordination of the medical teams and activities in the different regions of the country in line with Solthis strategy, policies and principles.
Specific Tasks and responsibilities
Technical Support to national coordination bodies and representation of Solthis expertise at national Level
Collaborate and coordinate with national and international Partners notably the MoHS (at national and district level) and development partners (donors such as the Global Fund, NGOs and CSOs) to jointly plan the national response and share best practices and information for knowledge management.
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.
Provide technical support to scaling up and decentralization of HIV Care and Services in Sierra Leone and give support to District Health Management Team (DHMT)
Provide technical support to the elaboration of tools for data collection
In collaboration with the Pharma-Lab Specialist, contribute to discussions on and elaboration of expanded access to ART, VL/EID and OI Commodities.
Support 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 Medical expertise at national and district level and attend coordination meetings relevant to programs when dealing with medical aspects.
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.
Coordination of HIV Programs Implementation
Lead, coordinate and follow-up on all the activities of the Solthis HIV Programs (activities related to the management of adult & pediatrics HIV Care and Services, TB / HIV co-infection, PMTCT, Nutrition, sexual & reproductive health ,availability of drugs, VL/EID and other laboratory services etc.):
Quality of Care Improvement activities: participatory diagnostic assessment, development of road maps, follow-up of their implementation.
Capacity Building and mentoring activities of National Trainers and Health Care workers and their assessment: training need assessment and training plan, class-room and on-site trainings, as well as clinical mentoring.
Joint Monitoring activities with National and District teams
Promotion of Patient-centered care, free of stigma and stigmatization
Development of tools (job-aids, SOPs etc.) to improve the provision and the organization of care, and to improve retention and adherence of PLHIV
Provide technical assistance to the medical team concerning health activities implementation ensuring compliance in terms of achieving objectives in current grants
Develop/update action plans in collaboration with the medical team and ensure that these are adequately implemented.
Co-operate with the administration and finance team regarding budgeting of medical activities and purchasing and dispatching of medical equipment
Conduct routine monitoring visits to ensure proper coordination and implementation of activities
Co-operate with the Community team in the implementation of transversal activities
Monitoring and Evaluation/ Project Reporting
Responsible for the definition, follow-up and reporting of project indicators related to medical activities: designing and monitoring of tools, organizing the data-collection and ensuring quality of data-collected, data-analysis.
Link all the work done with national partners, various activities, outputs & outcomes
Coordinate the elaboration of the monthly report of the Medical Team: compilation, analysis and feedback on reports from the team.
Coordinate the elaboration of Solthis annual programming session (Annual report) in close collaboration with the HOM
Coordinate the elaboration of donor reporting in close collaboration with the HOM
Regular communication with HQ advisor
Research & Dissemination of Project results
Contribute to the elaboration and dissemination of abstract & articles on project results.
Participate and coordinate the organization of Annual dissemination workshop with partners
Participate to the design and coordinate the implementation of Survey on knowledge, attitudes, practices of patients and HCWs
Participate to the design and coordinate the implementation of a Patient Experience Survey
Participate to the design and coordinate the implementation of a feasibility study and need analysis of HIV self-testing for PLHIV partners and Key Population in Sierra Leone
Participate to the elaboration of research and study protocols
Ensure the empower medical scientific evidence activities in Sierra Leone
Human Resources Management and Supervision
Supervise 4 direct reports and 2 indirect reports, ensuring that these staff members feel adequately supported and maintain open channels of communication
Assess their performance on an annual basis, approve time sheets and schedules
Ensure that direct reports are delivered on responsibilities as outlined in their work plan, and update this work plan as needed to incorporate new projects and adjustments for existing initiatives.
Provide mentorship to staff members, identifying appropriate professional development opportunities and implements a capacity-building plan
Provide support with the recruitment, onboarding and off boarding of staff personnel
Organize regular team meetings and other avenues for cross-collaboration within and across Solthis teams
Maintain open lines of communications with all staff with respect to global and individual culture
Additional activities
Support the Head of mission in fundraising and/or expanding/developing new program
Maintain flexibility to take on added responsibility as and when needed
Qualifications and skills:
Medical doctor with at least 5 years of experience in HIV/AIDS with experience in comprehensive care: pediatric care, adolescent and adult as well as PMTCT
Knowledge of public health and clinical research
Strong experience in nutrition, sexual and reproductive health is an added value
Experience in team management, ability to work in multi-cultural teams
Experience in resource-limited settings
Experience dealing with national authorities and national and international organizations
Experience in training, coaching and supervision of staff
Experience in project management
Must have excellent communications skills, both oral and written
Must have excellent self-motivation skills
Fluent English, French is an asset
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 )
[S1]To be confirmed with HQ
How to apply:
Please send your application in English (CV, cover letter, references, dates of availability) to recrutement@solthis.org, quoting reference “Medical Coordinator HIV”, by February 1st, 2019.
Solthis reserves the right to close any vacancy before the advertised deadline. Thank you for your understanding.