Triage Officer at the Taimaka Project

The Taimaka Project runs a treatment program for acute malnutrition in children younger than five years in Gombe state, Nigeria. Within our treatment program, we incubate innovations to make malnutrition treatment better, cheaper, and simpler so that scarce resources can save more lives. Our research team is preparing to launch a study on the mental health of caregivers of children who are acutely malnourished.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Triage Officer

Location: Gombe

Main Purpose

• The Triage Officer will oversee daily nutrition activities at the project site, including assisting with planning, reporting, and supervising field operations.
• Working closely with the OTP Supervisor and Logistics Officer, they will ensure project activities comply with organizational standards.
• Additionally, the Triage Officer will elp coordinate nutrition data collection, collaborating with the M&E officer to ensure accurate data capture and timely information sharing.

Responsibilities

• In liaison with the OTP supervisor, plan and organize OTP at fixed and outreach locations.
• Responsible for conducting OTP activities at project sites; screening, taking case history, admission, record keeping, discharges, distribution, and client review.
• Take the lead on OTP services at both facility and outreach OTP sites.
• Responsible for providing Nutrition education, counseling, therapeutic foods, drugs, and immunizations to acute malnutrition patients receiving treatment at the OTP site.
• In liaison with the OTP supervisor, he/she will review clients' progress and determine cases for referrals, readmission, or discharge.
• Ensure all criteria are respected and understood including admissions, discharge, and transfer to and from the OTP/ITP.
•  Ensure facilities have adequate essential medical and nutrition supplies and report before any stock-out.
• Ensure stockkeeping and accountability at the facility level.Ensure comprehensive health checks and correct clinical diagnosis at the time of assessment according to the Nigerian National CMAM protocols so that the clients receive appropriate treatment.
• He/she will document absenteeism/defaulter and generate lists for follow-ups. Moreso, share and discuss with the outreach program officers for follow-up. 
• Ensure accurate information is entered into the facility GMP register.
• Duties related to the opening and closing of the outpatient malnutrition treatment clinic at the start and end of the day, including stock-taking. 
• Managing the referral of patients requiring stabilization care to inpatient care facilities.
• Provide MIYCN counseling for caregivers and children on breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and locally available foods, feeding practices in the home, and other topics as assigned.
• Provide 1:1 counseling and active case management for cases of SAM and MAM in children under six months
• Engage with community members and nutrition program staff to increase awareness of MIYCN issues and reduce the stigma surrounding support.
• Provide a daily or weekly report on OTP activities as the case may be, based on the demands of the OTP supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned by the Employer related to the treatment of acute malnutrition in an outpatient clinic setting.

Requirements

• Qualification: Basic Nursing/Midwife /CHEW/EHT/Nutrition & Dietetics and B.Sc. Nursing.
• Candidates should have at least one or two years of experience in CMAM programming and coordinating with other NGOs and the Government is preferred.
• Fluency in English and Hausa is required. Tera and Fulfulde are added advantages.

Knowledge and skills:

• Essential: Comprehensive understanding of maternal and child nutrition, and disease prevention strategies
• Preferred: Knowledge or hands-on experience in Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and IYCF
• Preferred: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, coupled with meticulous attention to details
• Essential: Proven capability to work effectively within and actively contribute to a team environment
• Essential: Demonstrated resilience in maintaining high-performance standards and exemplary conduct across diverse cultural settings, psychologically challenging situations, and resource-limited, physically demanding conditions.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.