Summary
Date Posted: Thursday, November 16 2023, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Overview
• The USAID Zambia Accessible Markets for Health (ZAM-Health) Activity is a five-year project to expand the availability and accessibility of high-quality health products and services in the private sector, improve health knowledge, and increase the adoption of healthy and health-seeking behaviors. The program uses approaches such as marketing, social franchising, and partnerships with for-profit entities to achieve these outcomes. USAID ZAM-Health is implemented by John Snow Health Zambia (JSH) in partnership with JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), PharmAccess and Mopani Mines.
• JSH is seeking to employ a Laboratory Services Advisor on Consultancy to support the strengthening and scale up of HIV Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RCTQI) and HIV Recency Testing in Central and Copperbelt provinces and engagement with the private laboratories. This consultancy will be for a period of 3 months, from 1st December 2023 to 29th February 2024.

Roles And Responsibilities:
• Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Party – Health Services, the consultant will offer technical support to supported regions regarding HIV viral load and HIV Rapid Testing Continuous Quality Improvement (RTCQI) activities as well as strengthening and scale up of Recency testing in supported regions. S/he will work with the Ministry of Health and project staff by the following key responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities
• Establish and continuously update HIVRT Testers and testing points databases for strategizing, planning and decision-making purposes
• Work with MOH to conduct training of HIVRT testers in the Nationally approved HIVRT training
• Work with MOH to conduct HIVRT assessments and certifications of HIVRT testers, with provision of testing certificates from the National data-base
• Ensure testers that fail certification undergo remedial process until can be certified
• Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that only certified testers conduct HIVRT testing
• Provide technical support to ensure that re-certifications are conducted for those testers whose certification expires
• Conduct trainer of trainers for HIVRT assessors and site certification assessors
• Conduct baseline, intermediary and final assessment of testing points and work with (stakeholders) to mobilize required resources to move from baseline to certification point
• Mentor facilities to ensure tester and site certification is attained and up held
• Work with sites to build testing points efficiency to optimize facility HIVRT testing
• Ensure all testing points are enrolled in the National HIVRT proficiency testing system and participate in the bi-annual HIVRT proficiency cycles
• Work with sites to strengthen courier systems for Proficiency samples and results transportation to and from the PT National Reference Laboratory
• Ensure remedial corrective and preventative measures are put in place for sites that fail the Proficiency testing
• Strengthen documentation and reporting tools and practices to support capacity building in RTCQI
• Work with PCR Laboratories and supported sites for successful activation in Recency testing
• Ensure that scale up of Recency is conducted through trainings and mentorship of both HCWs and Lay staff
• Provide mentorship in Recency data utilization and hot spot mapping to improve targeted testing and improve HIVRT yield.
• Provide mentorship in minimizing silent transfers using Recency results
• Establish Recency performance data collection tools and ensure availability to enhance reporting, documentation, and performance monitoring
• Support sites to establish RTCQI and Recency data review meetings as well as QI projects to further improve performance
• Contribute to the development of work plans and procedures; support the implementation of action plans related to RTCQI and Recency activities
• Support the clinical team towards improving VL coverage at the Mopani Hospitals
• Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Basic Qualifications
• The applicant should hold a Laboratory Degree with MPH being an added advantage
• At least 2 years’ experience in RTCQI and Recency activities at facility, district and provincial levels
• Experience working with MOH and its collaborating partners in RTCQI and Recency activities.
• Trainer of trainers in HIVRT training, Tester and testing points certification is a must.
• Hands on experience in facility Recency activation
• Ability to transfer skills by way of training, mentorship, staff motivation and working in teams.
• A good grasp and understanding of the Zambian health system and the Zambian HIV response including awareness on the importance of quality HIVRT testing and the 1st 95
• Working knowledge in Laboratory Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance systems

Required Languages – English and at least one local Language.
Travel – Must be willing and able to travel up to 50%.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Excellent strategic, analytical, systems thinking, and problem-solving skills with capacity to see the big picture and ability to make sound judgment and decisions.
• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how you approach each relationship.
• Team leadership abilities
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results oriented.
• Excellent writing skills
• Experience and abilities in capacity strengthening – developing curricula and facilitating trainings.
• Experience using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications,

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure
• Kindly follow the link below and answer all the questions to submit your applications:
• Application Link
• Closing Date: 22ND November 2023.
• John Snow Health Zambia, Limited is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer committed to workplace diversity. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, genetic information, political affiliation, or military status (special disabled veterans or veteran status) in any employment decisions.

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