TB Clinical Care Specialist, National TB Program
Reports to: Head of Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste with functional coordination with the National TB Program Manager and Division of Global Fund
Duration: 18 months
Funding: Global Fund Grant Agreement TMP-708-G04-T
Background and Purpose:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health challenge for Timor-Leste. In order to reduce the burden of diseases due to TB in Timor-Leste, the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) is now being implemented throughout all 13 districts and 65 sub-districts of Timor-Leste. The program specifically targets all current and potential TB patients, including those living with HIV/AIDS, MDR-TB, and patients who do not receive directly observed treatment or discontinue treatment.
With approval from Green Light Committee (GLC), Timor-Leste has been addressing MDR-TB cases since 2008. MDR-TB guidelines have been developed, a DOTS-Plus Committee has been formed and a DOTS-Plus center has been established at an NGO facility for in-patient management of MDR-TB cases.
The TB Clinical Care Specialist will be based in the Communicable Disease Control Department, Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste and support the National TB Program in TB clinical care areas and build country capacity in achieving the following objectives—
1. Pursue high quality DOTS expansion and enhancement by improving diagnosis of TB cases, implementing standardized quality treatment and patient support, and establishing an effective drug supply and management system for TB cases;
2. Address TB/HIV, MDR-TB and other challenges by managing TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB cases;
3. Engage All Care Providers and build their capacity in TB clinical care
4. Empower people with TB and communities and strengthen Community TB care
Role and Responsibilities:
• Assist National TB Program, regional hospitals and district TB centers in implementing and expanding DOTS and improving quality of treatment and care through monitoring, on-the-job training and mentoring;
• Periodically review the laboratory activities and process and assist with improving quality of diagnosis of TB, MDR-TB and TB/HIV cases to support clinical management of the cases;
• Assist National TB Program in selecting anti-TB drugs, forecasting their quantity for procurement, and monitoring the supply, current stock, distribution and rational use of anti-TB drugs to ensure that patients’ needs are properly addressed and there is no stock out of anti-TB drugs;
• Provide regular clinical management support to MDR-TB cases admitted in the intensive phase of treatment at the DOTS-Plus facility and follow up care to MDR-TB patients on continuation phase of treatment;
• Advice the DOTS-Plus Committee regarding shifting of MDR-TB patients from intensive phase to continuing phase of treatment;
• Work closely with STI and HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Specialist to support detection and management of TB/HIV co-infections;
• Coordinate with the doctors and nurses at the National Hospital, Regional Hospitals and District TB Centers (DTC) in ensuring proper management and follow up of TB, MDR-TB and TB/HIV cases including management of adverse reactions of drugs;
• Periodically visit the Community TB Clinics and NGO TB Clinics (including Catholic Clinics) to ensure and improve quality of TB treatment and care;
• Train and assist TB clinical service providers in recording and reporting of case management as per national guidelines;
• Work closely with National TB Program, WHO, Technical Working Groups on TB in reviewing and updating clinical guidelines on MDR-TB based on international recommendations and in-country experience;
• Conduct periodic assessment and review the status of diagnosis, management and follow up of TB, MDR-TB and HIV/HIV cases in consultation with relevant stakeholders (e.g. physicians and director of treatment facilities, DOTS-Plus Committee, National TB Program Manager and Regional Supervisors) and initiate necessary action to implement recommendations from the review;
• Based on the periodic assessment and review, develop, plan and conduct training for TB Clinical Service Providers to develop in-country capacity in addressing issues and improving quality of TB Clinical Care;
• Develop and share with National TB Program, Head of the Department of Communicable Disease Control and Department of Partnership Management of the Ministry of Health consultant’s periodic work plan and progress with comments on any risks, lessons learned and recommendations.
Required Qualifications:
• Medical degree from reputed medical institution with post-graduation in pulmonology and TB
• 3-5 years of clinical experience in diagnosis and treating TB and MDR-TB cases
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Familiarity with Tetum or Bahasa Indonesia or Portuguese will be added advantage
• Work experience in Southeast Asia and with a GLC project will be added advantage
• Experience of working with National TB Program and/or Global Fund grant will be added advantage
How to apply:
Please send your cover letter and cv by 25 February 2011 to:
hasibul.haque@moh.gov.tl
Duration: 18 months
Funding: Global Fund Grant Agreement TMP-708-G04-T
Background and Purpose:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health challenge for Timor-Leste. In order to reduce the burden of diseases due to TB in Timor-Leste, the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) is now being implemented throughout all 13 districts and 65 sub-districts of Timor-Leste. The program specifically targets all current and potential TB patients, including those living with HIV/AIDS, MDR-TB, and patients who do not receive directly observed treatment or discontinue treatment.
With approval from Green Light Committee (GLC), Timor-Leste has been addressing MDR-TB cases since 2008. MDR-TB guidelines have been developed, a DOTS-Plus Committee has been formed and a DOTS-Plus center has been established at an NGO facility for in-patient management of MDR-TB cases.
The TB Clinical Care Specialist will be based in the Communicable Disease Control Department, Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste and support the National TB Program in TB clinical care areas and build country capacity in achieving the following objectives—
1. Pursue high quality DOTS expansion and enhancement by improving diagnosis of TB cases, implementing standardized quality treatment and patient support, and establishing an effective drug supply and management system for TB cases;
2. Address TB/HIV, MDR-TB and other challenges by managing TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB cases;
3. Engage All Care Providers and build their capacity in TB clinical care
4. Empower people with TB and communities and strengthen Community TB care
Role and Responsibilities:
• Assist National TB Program, regional hospitals and district TB centers in implementing and expanding DOTS and improving quality of treatment and care through monitoring, on-the-job training and mentoring;
• Periodically review the laboratory activities and process and assist with improving quality of diagnosis of TB, MDR-TB and TB/HIV cases to support clinical management of the cases;
• Assist National TB Program in selecting anti-TB drugs, forecasting their quantity for procurement, and monitoring the supply, current stock, distribution and rational use of anti-TB drugs to ensure that patients’ needs are properly addressed and there is no stock out of anti-TB drugs;
• Provide regular clinical management support to MDR-TB cases admitted in the intensive phase of treatment at the DOTS-Plus facility and follow up care to MDR-TB patients on continuation phase of treatment;
• Advice the DOTS-Plus Committee regarding shifting of MDR-TB patients from intensive phase to continuing phase of treatment;
• Work closely with STI and HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Specialist to support detection and management of TB/HIV co-infections;
• Coordinate with the doctors and nurses at the National Hospital, Regional Hospitals and District TB Centers (DTC) in ensuring proper management and follow up of TB, MDR-TB and TB/HIV cases including management of adverse reactions of drugs;
• Periodically visit the Community TB Clinics and NGO TB Clinics (including Catholic Clinics) to ensure and improve quality of TB treatment and care;
• Train and assist TB clinical service providers in recording and reporting of case management as per national guidelines;
• Work closely with National TB Program, WHO, Technical Working Groups on TB in reviewing and updating clinical guidelines on MDR-TB based on international recommendations and in-country experience;
• Conduct periodic assessment and review the status of diagnosis, management and follow up of TB, MDR-TB and HIV/HIV cases in consultation with relevant stakeholders (e.g. physicians and director of treatment facilities, DOTS-Plus Committee, National TB Program Manager and Regional Supervisors) and initiate necessary action to implement recommendations from the review;
• Based on the periodic assessment and review, develop, plan and conduct training for TB Clinical Service Providers to develop in-country capacity in addressing issues and improving quality of TB Clinical Care;
• Develop and share with National TB Program, Head of the Department of Communicable Disease Control and Department of Partnership Management of the Ministry of Health consultant’s periodic work plan and progress with comments on any risks, lessons learned and recommendations.
Required Qualifications:
• Medical degree from reputed medical institution with post-graduation in pulmonology and TB
• 3-5 years of clinical experience in diagnosis and treating TB and MDR-TB cases
• Excellent communication skills in English
• Familiarity with Tetum or Bahasa Indonesia or Portuguese will be added advantage
• Work experience in Southeast Asia and with a GLC project will be added advantage
• Experience of working with National TB Program and/or Global Fund grant will be added advantage
How to apply:
Please send your cover letter and cv by 25 February 2011 to:
hasibul.haque@moh.gov.tl
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