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PMTCT Program Manager The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Overview:

CHAI Background

CHAI teams work in partnership with the government, partners, and other major stakeholders to identify the key obstacles to access and scale-up of essential health services, and to develop sustainable strategies to overcome them. CHAI came to Malawi in 2006 to support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a variety of HIV/AIDS initiatives including but not limited to:

- Policy advice, support, and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health (MOH)
- Procurement and distribution of ARV and diagnostics for paediatric care as well as for Adult 2nd line therapy.
- Paediatric nutrition services for the MOH’s Out-Patient Therapy Programme (OTP) to treat children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) through Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC).
- Laboratory Services Programme to train Lab Assistants and to build, refurbish, equip, supply and provide technical support for laboratories.
- Paediatric programme development and support of paediatric HIV/AIDS outreach and services, technical assistance with paediatric clinical trials, and support for the MOH’s ART programme M&E.
- Rural delivery of quality integrated health care services in partnership with Partners In Health (PIH) in the Neno District.
- PMTCT policy and programme development and support including Early Infant Diagnosis (EID).

CHAI PMTCT Initiative

In 2008 CHAI is implementing a global PMTCT initiative in 9 countries. The goal is to dramatically reduce, in a focal area of each country, the rate of HIV transmission from mothers to infants. In Malawi this effort will be concentrated in the district of Machinga. The goal is to assist the MOH to scale up the national PMTCT programme by providing a comprehensive set of appropriate interventions to increase the uptake and quality of maternal and child health services, and follow through in treatment, so every aspect of the continuum of care is addressed. The strategic activities involved will include infrastructural enhancements, training of PMTCT providers, community sensitisation and mobilisation including male involvement, increased use of diagnostics including CD4 for mothers and DNA PCR testing for infants, attention to flow and linkages in and between ANC, L&D, PN, U5 and FP services, enhanced nutrition programme, enhanced home based care/community health programme with effective follow-up, and comprehensive monitoring and evaluation procedures.

Job D­escription

The purpose of this position is to be the focal leader for CHAI in the Machinga District in its goal to assist the MOH, to offer extremely comprehensive and high quality PMTCT services in this District by working within the national PMTCT guidelines. The mandate of the PMTCT Program Manager is to create a dramatic and significant improvement in the uptake, delivery, and coverage of PMTCT services in Machinga District. The PMTCT Program Manager will work closely and effectively with both the District-level leadership – the DHO, the District Executive Committee, and the MOH PMTCT Coordinator and the HIV Unit and other implementing partners – and with the CHAI Country Director.

Responsibilities:

- Provide leadership and guidance in the implementation of the CHAI PMTCT initiative in Machinga District
- Liaise with the DHO, District leadership and District PMTCT Coordinator to ensure smooth and effective programme implementation
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key personnel at the National level, District Level and in the Health Centres and communities
- Provide guidance and suggestions for human resource changes on an ongoing basis
- Provide direct supervision and support to the whole CHAI team in Machinga district
- Play an active role in supporting the training and motivation of PMTCT service providers
- Work with the Lead Mentor to assist PMTCT sites to create the most efficient and effective patient flow through PMTCT services
o Optimise space available
o Minimise number of points in facility mothers are required to visit
o Strive to achieve “one-stop” approach for services for pregnant women
- Work with PMTCT providers and CHAI team to create optimal conditions and atmosphere to encourage males to attend ANC
- Strengthen linkages and referral networks between ANC, MAT, U5, FP and ART service providers
- Provide technical assistance and support to the healthcare workers and staff involved in all aspects of PMTCT services
- Provide particular technical support as option B+ is introduced in the district and all PMTCT sites
- Together with the team help monitor quality of services provided by technical staff and ensure that staff adhere to protocols
- Work with CHAI and DHO teams to create effective incentives for women and men to access services
- Monitor work-load and fatigue amongst PMTCT providers, and provide motivation and support to minimize this
- Liaise with CHAI M&E Specialist so that all data is provided comprehensively and accurately when requested
- Constantly review current data to assess effectiveness of services and make adjustments for improvement
- Compile quarterly and annual reports for the donors
- Provide motivation, guidance and leadership as CD4 testing for pregnant women is expanded
- Provide management and leadership in creating reliable and timely sample transport for CD4 samples from Health centres to the DH
- Provide guidance and leadership in ensuring CD4 results return in a timely manner and that patients are motivated to return for these results
- Provide motivation, guidance and leadership in assisting the roll-out of EID and DNA PCR testing in the District
- Provide management and leadership in creating reliable and timely sample transport for DBS samples, from health centres to the DH and to central lab and the same with results
- Provide motivation, guidance and leadership in achieving comprehensive reach and efficacy of community activities
- Provide overall technical and clinical leadership and direction of the CHAI’s PMTCT program in Machinga and Malawi
- Member of the Ministry of Health HIV technical working groups (TWG) and sub working groups within the Ministry
- Take part and participate fully at national level in the writing of Global fund proposal for Malawi and Rolling Continuation Channel (RCC) grants
- Participate at National and zone level in all SWAp and NAC meetings
- Liaise with all CHAI Malawi Program Managers in

Qualifications:

- Fully licensed and qualified Medical Doctor or State Registered Nurse with a Masters Degree
- Professional clinical experience for a minimum of 5 years
- Professional experience for a minimum of 3 years in the provision of PMTCT services
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision
- Ability to move a programme forward with rapid urgency
- Excellent skills in leadership and supervision and management of personnel
- Special consideration given to candidates with experience managing a diverse team of healthcare workers
- A buoyant and outgoing personality with demonstrable ability to motivate others
- Skills necessary to write clear and concise documents and reports
- Willingness to travel frequently to Machinga district and PMTCT sites throughout the District

How to apply
APPLY HERE ONLY: https://careers-chai.icims.com/jobs/2068/job