ESM Pharmacist (Consultant) at Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS)

The Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) is a leading and reputable indigenous non-governmental organization that promotes access to qualitative healthcare, Education and economic strengthening opportunities for all Nigerians. With its headquarters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State with a corporate office in Abuja, ECEWS has presence in 17 States across the South-South, South East, South West and North Central Nigeria with a strong client portfolio with the Global Fund to fight against AIDS, TB and Malaria, United States agency for international development (USAID), United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), The United Nations office of Projects, World Bank & Federal Government of Nigeria. Since its founding in 2001, ECEWS has built a vast network of health and allied professional staff, partners and collaborators which has earned her a solid reputation among its funders and is well regarded by competitors and partners alike.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: ESM Pharmacist (Consultant)

Location: Ebonyi
Job Nature: Full Time

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• The main responsibility will be to provide pharmaceutical care services and support medication adherence counseling services within the communities.

Area 1: Delivery of pharmaceutical & commodity supply chain services in support of quality Antiretroviral Therapy (ART):

• Maintain adequate health commodity supply chain both within the ESM site and the supported facilities within the senatorial zone.
• Ensure efficiency and optimization of all the DSD Models
• Dispense Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and other medication in line with approved regimens and standards.
• Dispense ARVs in appropriate packaging with clear instructions.
• Provide medication-related counseling, including reinforcing adherence and advising on potential side effects and drug interactions.
• Provide drug information to health service providers and clients on request.
• Identify and support follow-up of clients who do not return refills of their ARVs.
• Work with providers and clients to identify, manage, and report adverse drug reactions and drug interactions.
• Contribute to decision making on treatment and care for individual clients.
• Ensure Good Pharmaceutical Practice (GPP) and standards.
• Calculate drug storage needs for ART start-up and expansion.
• Monitor ARV and other drug (STIs, OIs, etc.) stock levels communicate with the project team for re-stocking.
• Contribute to forecasting /quantification of health commodities and monitoring of drug distributions.
• Oversee drug logistics i.e., stock-taking, proper drug storage, drug stock out and monitor the effectiveness of the pull system.

Area 2: Internal and External Quality Control Systems:

• Assess the functionality of existing pharmaceutical management systems and develop implementation plans that prioritize and address gaps.
• Oversee quality assurance systems at the facilities by close monitoring of prescription patterns, ensuring proper documentation, side effects monitoring (pharmacovigilance) and reducing dispensing errors.
• Identify needs for information resources—for example, ART guidelines and drug information for medication counselling.

Area 3: Internal and External Quality Control Systems:

• Monitor and report medication errors suspected adverse reactions to medicines, and other medication-related events.
• Monitor ART prescriptions for appropriateness and any discrepancies.
• Monitor adherence to ARVs; working with clients and other health service providers to address challenges.
• Address emerging problems as client numbers increase.
• Monitor and report weekly enrolment.
• Provide support to the Strategic Information (SI) unit to conduct research (qualitative and quantitative) surveys on service delivery outcomes for HIV prevention, care, and treatment.
• Ensure timely submission of quality reports on a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly basis or as required.
• Maintain transaction records and inventory management tools as required to ensure transparency in commodity management records.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of logistics reports to facilitate stock replenishment and accountability.

Area 4: Other assignments:

• Participate in cluster coordinating meeting and represent the project at relevant fora.
• Carry out any assignment as may be decided and delegated by the Supervisor.

Experience, Skills & Minimum Required Qualifications

• A Pharmacist with at least 1 - 2 years’ experience in TBHIV management.
• Must have a current practicing license.
• Good Knowledge of computer with ability in Microsoft Excel for simple data analysis.

Salary
Competitive.

Application Closing Date
30th September, 2024.