Zambia CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Epicentre is a non-profit organisation created in 1987 by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which groups health professionals specialised in public health and epidemiology. In 1996, Epicentre became a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Response to Emerging Diseases. Epicentre carries out operational research studies, mainly within the MSF movement from its headquarters in Paris, satellites in Geneva, Barcelona, Brussels, London and New York, and two field research bases in Mbarara-Uganda and Maradi-Niger. Epicentre also offers its expertise to organisations requesting short-term field epidemiological studies in developing countries.
Context
Epicentre and M̩decins Sans Fronti̬res РSpain will be conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of implementing the 2010 WHO recommendations for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in rural health facilities of Zambia. The study will be conducted in 8 rural health centres in Luwingu District, where M̩decins Sans Fronti̬res is implementing an Antenatal care (ANC) / PMTCT program in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Position and function
The Clinical Research Assistant will closely work with the MSF team in Luwingu and in Lusaka to ensure smooth collaboration with MSF and its MoH partners and will work under the supervision of the principal investigator of the study at Epicentre, Paris. Specifically, his/her role will be to : • Conduct the PMTCT study • Implement, coordinate and supervise monitoring activities related to PMTCT in the program
Activities
1. PMTCT research activities
He/she will implement the research component of the project PMTCT in the field. His/her role will be to:
o contribute to the preparation of study procedures for the implementation of the research o pilot questionnaires and study procedures before the start of the study o recruit, train and supervise interviewers for the study o contribute to the preparation of the database for the study o coordinate and supervise the implementation of the study in the field o ensure that informed consent is obtained from each participant in the study o ensure compliance with study protocol and data collection procedures in accordance with good clinical practice o implement and supervise data collection and data entry related to the study o ensure safety and confidentiality of study data o ensure and monitor the good quality of the data collected during the study o actively participate to the improvement of the tracing monitoring system and its link with the evaluation component o send the study database to Epicentre for further cleaning and study monitoring
2. Monitoring PMTCT activities
He/she will ensure that the monitoring protocol and data collection procedures are correctly followed and that this is done in accordance with good clinical practice. His/her tasks will be to:
o ensure the good flow of patient data, including laboratory data o organise and supervise the data collection (including laboratory results) o supervise the correct completion of program questionnaires o supervise and regularly train field staff on PMTCT data collection o ensure good organisation of the filing system for patient data o ensure confidentiality and security of monitoring patient data o ensure the quality of data collected, setting up and complying with standard operation procedures for data verification and data cleaning o supervise data entry using FUCHIA and EpiData o generate program reports for MSF and MoH reporting o ensure that the tracing activities are timely conducted and the good flow of tracing information o participate in the medical weekly meetings with the MSF field team to provide feedback on activities and contribute to the improvement of the monitoring system o send the FUCHIA database to Epicentre for further cleaning and analysis o liaise with Epicentre to provide prompt feedback on field activities related to monitoring and evaluation
Candidate requirements
Training o Formal training in Epidemiology (MSc or equivalent) [grades and study units taken should be sent together with the job application] o Medical training (physician, nurse or midwife) Work experience o At least one year working experience in public health and/or epidemiology in resource-limited countries Recommended o Experience in field research conducted in resources-limited countries o Experience in field medical projects (public health or research) Knowledge, skills and abilities o Knowledge of software for data entry (ex, EpiData or Access) o Working experience with Word and Excel o Fluent English speaking o Dynamic, rigorous and able to work within a team o Willingness to work in a remote area of rural Africa o Interest in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Infectious Diseases o Good communication skills Recommended o ANC and PMTCT knowledge o Working knowledge of a statistical software for data management/analysis (e.g.Stata)
Conditions - Place: Luwingu district, Zambia - Status: Volunteer MSF status - Duration: 1 year contract, extended if required (starting march-april 2012)
Please send your CV and motivation letter to Nathalie Guérineau at job@epicentre.msf.org (Ref : CRA- Zambia-march 2012). Deadline of application : 25th january 2012
For further information about the position, please contact: Mar Pujades, + 33 (0)1 4021 5513, mar.pujades@epicentre.msf.org; or Jihane Ben Farhat, + 33 (0)1 4021 5492, jihane.ben-farhat@epicentre.msf.org.
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