Laboratory Support Officer at Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi)

Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative (AHNi) is a non-profit organization that promotes socio-economic development by supporting global health and economic initiatives in Nigeria. It was established as indigenous organizational, registered in 2009 with its headquarter in Abuja, and presence in the four geopolitical regions of Nigeria.  It aims to provide technical assistance to the government and people of Nigeria in the implementation of public health and development programs.

The Global Fund Grant Cycle (GC7) is to ensure a coordinated and intensive effort to scale up the prevention, identification, and treatment of HIV in both general and key populations in Anambra state. The focus will be on facility and community-based approaches to reach epidemic control, and in addition, ensure improvement in the coverage of pregnant women on ART as well as target KP and AGYW programs.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Laboratory Support Officer

Location: Taraba
Contract Type: Adhoc Services
Duration: 9 months with possibility of extension (based on availability of funds)
No of Adhoc: 15
Commencement Date: 2nd January 2024
Supervisor: Direct: Facility Laboratory Focal Person/Facility-In-Charge/ Laboratory Optimizer
Job Category: Adhoc

Background

• The Accelerating the Control of HIV Epidemic in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe & Taraba States (ACE-1) Project implemented by AHNi, and the consortium partners is a robust, sustainability-focused, high-impact, evidence-based HIV/AIDS intervention funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims at fast-tracking the attainment of UNAIDS 95:95:95 targets and achieving epidemic control in the focus states.
• Effective October 1, 2024, AHNi-ACE-1 took over the HIV implementation for the general population in Taraba State.
• AHNi verified and retained the Adhoc personnel transitioned from RISE for the first 3months to ensure adequate HR availability to continue service provision in all facilities.  
• AHNi-ACE-1 in collaboration with the Taraba State Government seeks to engage Adhoc personnel to fill the following roles across the 29 Supported Health Facilities in Taraba.

Overall Responsibilities

• The Laboratory Support Officer (LSO) shall be based in the health facility laboratory unit and support all laboratory activities in the health facility.
• S/he will work with the facility personnel to ensure optimal user experience for clients receiving treatment in the facility.
• S/he shall be knowledgeable in cultural issues relevant to communication and relationship management, maintain a database of clients, and remain in touch through various communication channels, including telephones, emails, social media platforms, etc.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities
The services of the Professional Case Manager will include but not limited to the following:

HTS:

• Ensure quality control is conducted routinely as the need arises
• Ensure validation testing (retesting) of all newly identified HIV-positive clients.
• Document all tests conducted in the appropriate laboratory registers
• Conduct proficiency testing for all persons providing HTS.
• Provide regular feedback to the ART Unit to improve patient management and user experience

Viral Load/EID:

• Participate in the line-listing and identification of clients eligible for viral load
• Facilitate sample collection for all eligible clients in the facility
• Participate in processing all samples collected and prepare same for transport
• Ensure all samples collected are documented on the National Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) on the same day
• Provide relevant information and coordinate with the M&E Unit to ensure regular and prompt updates of samples collected on the EMR
• Review the LIMS platform daily for results
• Receive VL results for the facility, document them on the appropriate registers (VL monitoring register and VL Turn-Around Time register) and send them to the M&E Unit for entry into the client records
• Track Viral load/EID samples turnaround time.

Recruitments

• CHEW / MLT / JCHEW, or Health-related qualifications with at least 1 year post-qualification experience in managing comprehensive TB and HIV programs in resource-constrained settings
• Experience in a similar position is an added advantage
• S/he must reside within the LGA where s/he is applying to work
• Candidate MUST NOT be an employee of the State or Nigerian Government (Any violation of this condition will attract outright dismissal from the Adhoc services with sanctions)

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Up-to-date knowledge about HIV interventions and programming at facility and community levels.
• Knowledge about the operating environment i.e. Adamawa, Borno, Yobe and Taraba States
• Knowledge of the Nigerian clinical setting, including government and non-government settings.
• Sensitivity to cultural differences and understanding of the social, political, and ethical issues surrounding HIV infections.
• Ability to work well with others and to develop and maintain compatibility among project staff, subcontractors, consultants, and recipients of assistance.
• Ability to communicate in the local dialect.
• Well-developed computer skills.

Application Closing Date
9th December, 2024.