Technical Advisor (Pediatrics ART) - Clinical Services at AiDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN)

APIN Public Health Initiatives is a non-governmental donor-funded organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, care and support of diseases of public health importance in Nigeria, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, among others.

APIN Public Health Initiatives has been awarded a 5 year Grant by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement “Improving Comprehensive AIDS Response Enhanced for Sustainability” (iCARES) project, - a hybrid of facility and community based interventions, that will expand access to comprehensive HIV prevention, care and treatment services in 8 states of Benue, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Plateau in Nigeria. The program, funded by US PEPFAR through CDC, aims to contribute to the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goal of HIV epidemic control in Nigeria.

We are seeking qualified and suitable candidates to assume the position below:

Job Title: Technical Advisor (Pediatrics ART) - Clinical Services

Location: Abuja
Directorate: Clinical Services

Job Description

• The job holder will work to accelerate progress toward the attainment of PEPFAR Nigeria program goals. This includes the provision of support to HIV treatment facilities to achieve epidemic control in 7 high-burden “scale-up” local government areas (LGAs) by reaching the UNAIDS’ 90-90-90 goal in Benue State, and to maintain PLHIV currently on ART in the remaining 16 LGAs in Benue State and the ones in all the other states (all known as “sustained support LGAs” and “sustained support plus LGAs.
• S/he will also contribute to the strengthening of working relationships with other stakeholders and building of systems for program sustainability.

Job Tasks

• Work with other team members to promote age-specific, gender-sensitive approaches to antiretroviral therapy (ART) as part of national “test and start” strategy to improve linkage to treatment in all LGAs.
• Ensure that newly identified PLHIV (adults and children) as well as those currently on treatment continue to receive uninterrupted ART services in all LGAs.
• Support ART services for stable PLHIV through differentiated models of care and treatment in order to improve treatment outcomes and create efficiencies, including multi-month drug refills, use of community structures etc.
• Ensure that PLHIV on ART receive adequate medication adherence support and scheduled monitoring in order to retain them on treatment and ensure treatment success
• Promote the implementation of TB/HIV activities to address TB disease among PLHIV: HIV testing for all TB cases, timely TB diagnosis and treatment completion, and TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) for PLHIV, as well TB infection control in supported facilities
• Interface, in conjunction with other members of the APIN Clinical Services Team, between the APIN Program Office, relevant government agencies and other stakeholders
• Provide support for managing a team of technical staff
• Contribute to the development of program work plans
• Provide technical and programmatic support for high quality HIV program implementation and service delivery, in line with national guidelines and international best practices, and work towards target achievement by supported sites and program sustainability
• Promote stakeholder engagement by working with various levels of government, their relevant bodies/agencies, US Government agencies in Nigeria and other partners
• Work closely with other team members to prepare program reports and document best practices

Qualifications and Experience

• A Medical degree (MBBS or equivalent), a Postgraduate Medical Fellowship in Pediatrics or a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH), with a minimum of 8 years’ cognate experience, especially in Pediatrics HIV clinical/program management.
• Experience in TB, MNCH, RH and malaria programs would be an advantage.

Application Closing Date
25th October, 2017.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their applications to: [email protected] stating how their skills, knowledge and experience make them suitable, and addressing the person specifications highlighted above.

Note

• The suitability statement should not exceed a page and must appear on the first page of the CV, which must be saved in Microsoft Word and as applicant’s full name.
• The subject of the mail should be the job position and location being applied for, e.g. Job Title - Location.
• Late applications will not be considered and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.