MEDICAL DOCTOR OR A REGISTERED NURSE OR EQUIVALENT WITH A MASTER’S: TO PROVIDE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE AT NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVEL TO BUILD CAPACITY AND IMPROVE THE CASE DETECTION RATES OF TB AND HIV-TB CO-INFECTION, UP TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE FOR TB/HIV INFECTION CONTROL COORDINATORS UNDER THE HEALTH, HIV/AIDS AND TB PROJECT

Background Information

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Deputy Prime Minister's Office (DPM,s Office) is implementing the Health, HIV/AIDS and TB Project which isjointly funded by the World Bank, European Union and the Government of Swaziland. Specifically, the proposed project will: (i) improve access to and the quality of health services in Swaziland with particular focuses on primary health care, maternal health and TB, and (ii) increase social safety net access for OVC.

Tuberculosis (TB) has become a major public health problem. The AIDS epidemic has also given rise to a concurrent TB epidemic in the country.

The MOH requires the services of one (1) National HIV/TB Infection Control Coordinator and four (4) Regional HIV/TB Infection Control Coordinators for an initial two-year contract, subject to review after the first year, with possibility of extension dependent on performance. The MOH now invites interested, qualified candidates to indicate their interest in providing technical support and services in HIV/TB infection control. Selection shall be on the basis of examination and comparison of the qualifications of the individual candidates as evidenced by their CVs. The selected individual shall be requested to submit a costed offer to undertake the work

I.  NATIONAL HIV/TB INFECTION CONTROL COORDINATOR (1)

Qualification:

Medical doctor or a Registered Nurse or equivalent with a Master's degree in Public Health or equivalent (in e.g.: Health Management, Health Care Services Management).

Experience:

• At least 7 years of clinical experience

• Trained in HIV prevention, TB prevention and Infection Prevention andControl at community level and  health facilities  (primary health care and hospital levels)

• Proven managerial (institutional and projects) expertise in the areasof HIV-TB-IPC activities at national and regional levels (Candidate must document not less than three institutional/project experiences during the last 5 years with contracts)

• Proven experience in training health care workers

• Team work and team leading experience.

Attributes:

• Ability to research, analyze and synthesize information, interpret data, and to clearly and concisely summarize results.

• Strong quantitative skills and attention to details.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows applications, namely Excel, Word and Power Point.  Demonstrated ability to learn new technology quickly and effectivelyuse it for maximum productivity.

• Strong communication skills with ability to prepare presentations and discuss TB/HIV related issues in written and oral form.

• Results-oriented personality with proven problem-solving skills.

Main Purpose of the Job:

The main objective of this activity is to provide expertise and knowledge at national and regional level to build capacity and improve the case detection rates of TB and HIV-TB co-infection, up to international standards.

Duties:

• The TB/HIV coordinator will be responsible to the National TB Programmes Manager under the supervision of the National TB/HIV-Infection, Prevention Control (IPC) focal person.

• He/she will plan and facilitate implementation of TB-HIV-IPC collaborative activities.

• He/ She will act as the link between the MOH and partners on matters relating to HIV-TB-IPC.

• He/ She will also act as official liaison with relevant government agencies and departments to foster support for TB infection control.

• He/ She will act as focal point person for research or proposal development and implementation in regard to HIV-TB-IPC areas.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for design preparation and distribution of IEC materials for TB/HIV-IPC for public enlightenment.

• Responsible for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of TB/HIV and National, regional and Community TB Care (CTBC) activities of the fourregional HIV-TB-IPC coordinators.

• Compile, analyze data on collaborative TB/HIV and CTBC activities andwill prepare summaries for national TB control Program as well as forNational authorities;

• Prepare annual work plan for collaborative HIV-TB- IPC  activities at national regional and Community TB Care (CTBC) activities;

• Prepare HIV-TB-IPC and CTBC annual budget based on the national budget resources, Health-HIV-TB Project, and other current donor resources,using the logic framework and based on the national strategy.

• Track implementation of activities defined in the annual work plan and the expenditures of the different sources defined in the multi-sources annual budget;

• Prepare the forecasted estimates in terms of quantities and costs of the annual requirements of the drugs and supplies for treatment of co-infected persons and will prepare the annual distribution plan.

• Provide technical and managerial advisory and inputs for the updatingor preparation of the HIV-TB-IPC management guidelines and treatment protocols.

• Support the development or review of the HIV-TB-IPC training materials and will participate in the training to the national TB Control Program officials at national and regional levels including the regional HIV-TB-IPC regional coordinators.

• REGIONAL HIV/TB INFECTION CONTROL COORDINATORS (4)

Qualification:  University level professional (bachelor degree) in health (Medicine, Nurse or equivalent). Training in the characteristics of the HIV/AIDs,TB and HIV-TB Co-infection will be an added advantage.

Experience: Proven experience in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in healthfacilities and other working environments (candidate must document not less than two experiences during the last 5 years with contracts or appointment letters). Clinical practice for a minimum of 3 years; Proven knowledge and experience of community health work and Training experience in the health field and basic project management experience will be an asset.

Attributes:

• Good degree of integrity, judgment and tact in handling the most sensitive, diverse and confidential material.

• Knowledge of the country's health system from community level to facility level.

• Understanding of HIV/AIDS and TB situation in the country including the various initiatives aimed at addressing these issues.

Main Purpose of the Job:

To coordinate regional efforts directed at addressing HIV/TB co-infection. These efforts could be resources, capacity building initiatives,protocols, guidelines and standards for HIV/TB co-infection management.

Duties:

• HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinators will be located in the Regions and his/her working place will be the Regional Health Offices as well as the health facilities within the corresponding region. The HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinators will report to the HIV-TB-IPC National Coordinator.

• HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinators will act as the lead liaison betweenNational TB Control Program, RHMT and other TB implementing partners in TB IPC.

Develop annual work plan in collaboration with regional authorities and other key stakeholders and will coordinate activities with other TB partners in the regions.

• Support and empower healthcare workers in strengthening and developing IPC-related measures, including administrative structures, knowledge, guidelines/policy and practice.

• Develop a Monitoring and Evaluation system for the region to monitor the incidence and prevalence rates of HIV, TB and other infectious HIVrelated diseases, and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the case detection rates as well as the provision of DOTS and ARV treatments provided to the infected population.

• HIV-TB-IPC regional Coordinator will also report monthly to the national authorities (National TB Program Epidemiological Surveillance and other related partners) about Incidence, prevalence and perceived effectiveness of interventions to minimize the transmission of infections.

• In collaboration with the national HIV/TB infection coordinator and other regional HIV/TB infection coordinators, will be responsible for developing a Strategic Plan for Infection Control and Implementation Plan for TB IPC at regional level.

• Prepare a monthly report on the overall activities according to the previously defined Functions.

• Design, implement, support and empower HIV-TB-IPC control and prevention measures for healthcare workers in strengthening and developing IPC-related measures, including administrative structures, as well as knowledge transference activities, regional and health facility guidelines/policies and practices.

• Provide training to primary and hospital health care workers, including auxiliary workers; laboratory technicians; and community-based interventions and provide refresher courses as needed in basic and intermediate HIV/TB - IPC.

• Provide on-site follow-up mentorship and support supervision and provide support to conduct regular TB-IPC risk assessments.

• HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinator will be supervised by the national TB-IPC Coordinator as well as by National TB Control Program authoritiesand Health HIV/AIDs and TB Project Coordinator

• HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinator will submit a monthly report of activities which will be reviewed by National TB Programme Manager, National Coordinator and Health HIB/AIDs and TB project Coordinator.

• HIV-TB-IPC regional Coordinator will attend to all HIV-TB- IPC related training at national and/or regional level.

• HIV-TB-IPC Regional Coordinator will prepare a set of case descrip