Technical Officer - Laboratory Services at the Centre for Health, Education, Economic Rehablitation & Social Security (CHEERS)

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: Technical Officer - Laboratory Services

Location: Anambra

Job Description/Summary

• S/he has the responsibility of supporting CHEERS Laboratory Services in supported facilities as well as all activities in the state.

Main Responsibilities

• Participate in monthly cluster coordination meetings at supported hub ART site
• Monitor and assess the level of compliance to health care waste management (including expired drugs and lab reagents) in supported facilities (during routine supportive visits)
• Monitor and report lab capacity utilization, commodity consumption, assays conducted and networking for CD4, Genexpert, Viral load, EID (lab testing data & sample referral network using the Hub and spoke model) -
• Conduct monthly supervisory visits and provide technical support to health facilities on ART lab service delivery, equipment management, GCLP, EQA, IQA, DBS sample collection, and QMS activities, including onsite trainings.
• Facilitate HIV Testing of TB patients
• Facilitate TB Screening of HIV positive clients at hub facilities
• Provide technical support to PCR laboratory to expedite results dissemination via SMS printers during visits to the laboratories
• Participate in the State TB Laboratory Quarterly Review Meeting
• Support Dried Tube Specimen {DTS} QA panel production, distribution, result collation and CA visit for HIV multi-point of testing in scale up states - Panel production only at selected Hubs and few lab personnel
• Integrate HTS into general laboratory operations
• Facilitate sputum sample collection and transport from DOTs sites to GeneXpert sites
• Participate in weekly and monthly project management team meetings
• Develop monthly and quarterly PMTCT state implementation workplans supervised by the State Team Lead
• Represent CHEERS in state and zonal level meetings as may be designated by the State Team Lead and/or Head Office
• Produce monthly comprehensive report of facilities and programs related to PMTCT in the state
• Carryout any other assignment as may be given by the State team lead and/or head office

Qualifications and Skills

• Candidates should be holders of a University degree in Medical Lab Science
• Experience in monitoring of TB/HIV Lab services in any of the states in the South Eastern Nigeria.
• Solid working knowledge of TB/HIV Lab architecture especially in a treatment setting.
• Experience in Global Fund project will be an added advantage
• Computer skills (MS Office), knowledge of basic equipment software
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as the ability to learn quickly and expand scope of functions.
• Integrity, professional discretion and ability to handle confidential information.
• Ability to assume ultimate responsibility, work under pressure.
• Ability to work in and around team building environment and work under pressure.
• 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
18th 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