South Africa Regional mHealth developper
Context of the post :
Ten years ago, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) showed that it was possible to treat people with HIV/AIDS in resource-poor settings. Since then, there has been a global response to the pandemic that has brought treatment to millions of people.
But the HIV/AIDS epidemic “fuelling” the inter-linked TB epidemic continues to be an exceptional medical crisis with huge unmet needs, continued gaps and emerging challenges.
There is growing evidence that large scale access to HIV treatment and prevention integrated with TB treatment and prevention decreases not only HIV/AIDS related mortality but also overall mortality and even incidence of new HIV infections, which shows the beginning of “reversing” the epidemic. In a limited number of pilot projects, MSF is committed to confronting HIV in its epidemic dimension by seeking innovative operational strategies aimed at reversing the epidemic curve while impacting mortality and morbidity at the community level.
MSF’s role was reaffirmed as a Catalyst for Change:
MSF will fight for integrated and scaled-up access to HIV/TB treatment and prevention for general populations and vulnerable groups by engaging in the innovative use of better medicines and tools for diagnosis and follow-up and more effective operational strategies to enable scaling up improved quality of HIV/TB services.
Description :
There is evidence that mHealth tools help to increase access to health care, reduce cost and save time. As examples, Early Infant Diagnosis lab sample transmission via SMS in Malawi intends to prevent infant deaths by reducing the delay of transmission of HIV results from the central lab. Mobile phone messaging can improve access to health services. Other interventions include simple algorithms helping in diagnosis in limited-resource settings; as well as medical support/advise for medical personnel with less knowledge or lack of expertise operating in remote areas.
MSF is planning to further introduce “mhealth” projects in the southern African region. The aim is to improve pre-ART, linkage to care , plug leaks in the cascade from testing to ART, improve adherence, improve laboratory sample collection & result delivery, health data collection (M&E) & information, surveys etc… To ensure the proper field implementation and follow-up of these new and continued activities, a regional mHealth developer is needed. Main tasks
I. To develop & implement specific mHealth related activities, following objectives clearly defined by each mission under specific and written ToRs (Terms of Reference).
Identify problems & needs: Identify, together with the SAMU (“South Africa Medical Unit” is the headquarter medical technical department specialized on HIV/TB delocalized in South Africa / Cape Town), field teams and MSF HQ, constraints and problems linked with health care provision where potentially mHealth applications could improve the situation. Typical issues such as: patients not collecting results, patients defaulting, adherence problems, data collection constraints, lack of medical HR, difficult pharmacy management for remote health centers, lack of access to medical / diagnostic information which could potentially be solved with mHealth solutions.
Acquire Baseline: Once needs or problem are identified, baseline data to be collected and analyzed.
Propose mHealth Solution (concept development): Propose possible solutions on the basis of the data and analysis of the problem.
mHealth solution implementation On the basis of validated solutions, introduce tools and applications (could be designed in collaboration with partner organizations and the medical department) and implement (design development, test, deploy, train users, monitor).
Monitoring Set up monitoring criteria (qualitative & quantitative data collection). Introduce monitoring tools and measure impact. Get support, when needed, from SAMU, to develop adequate Operational Research protocols.
Evaluation Evaluate the implemented system and tools and their impact on the problems identified. Eventually this could lead to an internal or external publications.
Lessons learned: Document the lessons learned of all the mHealth projects developed / implemented.
II. Conduct research & remain innovative in the business environment of mHealth, always from a field perspective and identified needs,
III. Networking / Active search for partners; mHealth deployment will usually be achieved through partnership with one or several other actors. Usual partners are of course the MoH, as well as national associations of People living with HIV/AIDS, universities, specialized commercial firms or non-profit organization. The mHealth developer will be responsible to establish, develop and maintain this network.
IV. Implementation in the field: The mHealth developer will also be responsible to develop an implementation strategy in each MSF project location and thus create the necessary mHealth team around him/her and provide management and guidance in close collaboration with existing MSF teams on the ground.
Candidate profile - Field experience (preferably with MSF or other international medical NGO) is an asset - Medical or para-medical background and experience is an asset - Experience with Health Databases and Mobile Information Systems is an asset - mHealth factual background & experience is an asset - Willingness and availability to travel and work in different field locations during consecutive weeks. - Building relationships, interest in human relations, diplomatic & open minded - Information seeking, handling and sharing, curious, general understanding of HIV/AIDS/TB medical activities, autodidact. - Strong project and people management capacity is necessary - Problem solving and action orientation, creative.. - Autonomous. - Flexibility and stress tolerance, ability to adapt quickly to different projects - Fluent English speaking.
Conditions - MSF HQ delocalized post - South African national salary and benefits package - Definite-term contract for 2 years - Full time position, based in Capetown, > 60% of the time spent in the field, in one of the MSF southern African missions. - Probation period: 6 months - Starting date: September 2012 - Works in close collaboration with the SAMU (South African Medical Unit) along the process development ( Problems & needs identification, base line, monitoring, OR protocol, evaluation etc...) - Reports to MSF HQ Southern African logistics supervisor for operational follow up / validation of mission’s ToR and agendas.
To apply, please forward a detailed CV together with a cover letter for attention Jim Mara to jim.mara@joburg.msf.org no later than 6th August 2012. Please mark clearly, the position in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
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