Contact Investigators at the Centre for Health, Education, Economic Rehablitation & Social Security (CHEERS) - 6 Openings

Centre for Health, Education, Economic Rehablitation & Social Security (CHEERS) is one of the leading indigenous Implementing Partners in Nigeria focusing on mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDs, Malaria and Tuberculosis in Nigeria. CHEERS mission is to improve the quality of lives of vulnerable population groups in rural communities across Nigeria by increasing access to healthcare services, education and economic empowerment.

CHEERS is supported by KNCV to implement a USAID-funded TB Community Action for Improved TB Case Detection and Treatment (COUNTED) Project, which will contribute to and increase the number of bacteriologically positive TB cases notification and treatment, strengthen community facility referral linkages, increase GeneXpert services uptake as well as increase the involvement of community-based private and traditional Health services providers in TB service delivery within Local governments in Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Benue, Nasarawa, and Niger State, Nigeria.

The project will be for a period of 3 months and we are need of competent/qualified consultants to fill up the vacant position listed below:

Job Title: Contact Investigators

Locations: Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Benue, Nassarawa, and Niger

Summary of the Position

• The main responsibility of the Contact Investigators is to assist in the design and implementation of Active Case Finding (ACF) for TB patients in selected communities in Enugu, Rivers, Bauchi, Benue, Nassarawa, and Niger States. The ACF activity will mostly involve carrying out home visits for each smear-positive TB case identified during community outreaches and from the nearest DOTS centers within the community.

Specific Responsibilities

• Carrying out home visits for each smear-positive TB case identified during community outreaches and from the nearest DOTS centers within the community
• Identifying and evaluating contacts of index patients
• Collect sputum samples from those presumed to have TB
• Transfer of Sputum to GeneXpert labs
• Follow up with the results of patients and refer all diagnosed Drug Sensitive or DR-TB patients to a linked DOTS clinic to start treatment
• Escort identified TB case to the DOTs Centers for easy access to treatment, follow up tests and review.
• Liaise with State Ministries of Health including the respective State TB and Leprosy Control Programs, partners (TB and HIV implementing partners, CSOs, Community gatekeepers, heads of religious bodies), health facilities and other related stakeholders in the planning and implementation of the ACF activities.
• Report weekly to the SPM.
• The CI reports to the State Program Officer.

Qualifications and Skills

• CHO/CHEW/Nurse or a Bachelor degree in relevant medical fields
• Minimum of 3 -5 years work experience in public health settings preferable – preferably TB or HIV programs;
• Experience in wide scale community-based intervention
• Experience in community mobilization efforts
• Experience managing complex health data.
• An out-of-the-box thinker who can develop innovative ideas towards achieving the objective of increasing TB case finding
• Proven ability to develop effective working relationships
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• The ability to organize and prioritize with eye for detail.
• All candidates must meet all the criteria of minimum qualification.

What We offer

• Challenging working environment with scope for professional and personal development;
• Being part of a dedicated, motivated and intercultural team;
• Salary depending on the capacity and experience of the candidate.

Application Closing Date
15th January, 2019.

How to apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Application (Curriculum Vitae, motivation letter, 3 professional references) to "The Human Resources, CHEERS" via: recruitment@cheersnigeria.org.ng