Program Officer – HIV Counseling and Testing Services Non-profit Jobs – Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP)

Job Title: Program Officer – HIV Counseling and Testing Services

Organisation: Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP)

Duty Station:  Kayunga, Uganda

Position Number: MUWRP/12/11/2022

 

About US:

Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) is a non-profit biomedical research Organization, whose mission is to mitigate disease threats through quality research, healthcare and disease surveillance. MUWRP was established in 2002 by a Memorandum of Agreement between The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) and Makerere University (Mak) to undertake medical research to test HIV vaccines. Over the years, MUWRP’s portfolio has progressively expanded to include vaccine research for Ebola and Marburg viruses, surveillance of influenza and influenza- like viruses and other emerging infections in humans and animals; also epidemiological, basic and implementation research in HIV treatment, care and prevention programs in the Districts of Kayunga, Mukono, Buvuma and Buikwe.

 

Job Summary: The Program Officer – HTS main responsibility will be to coordinate and oversee MUWRP PEPFAR program support to provision of the HIV Testing Services (HTS) package. This will include; HTS demand creation and linkage to care and treatment; adoption of new testing diagnostics methods and innovations to improve HIV case identification especially for the hard to reach/hard to find sub populations, site support to meet HTS accreditation and site/tester certification requirements and coordination of all HTS providers in MUWRP catchment area to ensure targeted testing for improved case finding and effective utilization of testing kits. H/She will work with teams to provide technical guidance for improvement of the HTS program as aligned to MoH and PEPFAR strategies and objectives.

 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Planning

• Participate in the COP planning process, program workplan and budget development.
• Participate in program target setting and redistribution for proper planning, implementation and monitoring.
• Provide technical guidance to the program sub grantees for annual and activity work plans and budget development.

Capacity Building and Technical assistance

• Coordinate/ participate in capacity building for district, health facility and sub grantee teams through organizing; CMEs, cross learning sessions; on job/off site trainings, coaching and mentorship to facilitate effective clinical management for clients in care.
• Contribute to capacity strengthening initiatives for the HIV and Testing program through development of; capacity building plans to address identified needs, training strategies and materials.

Program implementation-

• Implement HIV counselling and testing related activities as detailed in the approved annual PEPFAR program workplan
• Provide appropriate technical and supervisory support to facilities and program sub grantees for effective implementation of the HIV counselling and testing program and strengthened bi directional referrals.
• Strengthen index client testing within supported facilities through APN, OVC platform and social Network testing initiatives.
• Coordinate with the relevant district technical teams and implementing partners to ensure smooth implementation of project activities.
• Collaborate with the District, MOH/ACP and other relevant ministry technical teams to provide technical assistance in planning, implementing, and monitoring the QI interventions aimed at improving the quality of the HTS program.
• Represent MUWRP in related external engagements such as meetings, workshops, TWGs, IHPT/MHRP calls
• Identify quality gaps and brings these to the attention of the Lab Quality management officer to ensure that all testers are enrolled on the proficiency testing program and remedial action for testers that fail

Program monitoring and reporting

• Contribute to the development of program data collection and reporting tool and program indicators aligned with the MUWRP and PEPFAR program goals and objectives.
• Support the periodic collection of accurate, consistent and timely programmatic data as may be required by MoH/ PEPFAR/IHPT/HJF/MUWRP and support adhoc and scheduled reporting
• Participate in periodic performance reviews with facility/ sub grantee teams for improved performance monitoring
• Participate in the planning and conduct of data/service quality assessments and other evaluations as may be required.
• Participate in SIMS assessment visits and follow up remediation as is required

Knowledge sharing and learning

• Identify, document, disseminate, adapt and scale up best practices and innovations in HIV Counselling and Testing program.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• The ideal applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in nursing, social sciences or another relevant field.
• Master’s degree in Public health from a recognized University is an added advantage. Diploma in HIV Counselling is added advantage.
• At least three years’ working experience of implementing HIV prevention programs
• Additional training in Consolidated guidelines for the prevention and Treatment of HIV and AIDS in Uganda will be an added advantage.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently to achieve set goals.
• Ability to meet very tight deadlines.
• Ability to permanently reside in Kayunga
• Ability to frequently travel to the MUWRP PEPFAR supported sites in Kayunga, Mukono, Buikwe and Buvuma Islands.

 

How to Apply:

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply online at the link below.

 

Click Here

 

Deadline: 3^rd December 2022