Under the guidance of the ICAP Regional Director and regional HIV CS coordinator, the Regional laboratory advisor for HIV CS supports and coordinates the design and implementation of the HIV-1 rapid test for recent infection (RTRI) at regional level and CS implementing Health facilities. The incumbent will build the capacity of regional laboratories for laboratory quality assurance to facilitate effective data use for decision-making.

Position: Lab Advisor for HIV Case Surveillance

Number of positions: 1(One)

Duty station:  Tigray-Mekele

 MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The laboratory Advisor for HIV CS will have the following responsibilities:

·         Provide technical assistance at regional level to rollout HIV recency testing.

·         Support the establishment/strengthening of HIV recency testing quality assurance activities in close collaboration with Regional Referral/Public Health Laboratories.

·         Closely work with ICAP HIV CS coordinators, regional team, and advisors to improve the quality of HIV recency testing across CS implementing health facilities.

·         Support health facilities to increase access to HIV recency testing, proper documentation, and regular reporting system. 

·         Provide technical assistance to the Regional Referral/Public Health Laboratories in developing/updating different guidelines, registers, working formats, monitoring and evaluation indicators.

·         Organize and provide/facilitate HIV recency testing TOT/ basic trainings for health facilities in collaboration with the Regional /Public health laboratories and EPHI.

·         Provide technical support to Regional/Public Health/ Laboratories /EPHI in the preparation of panels for IQC/EQA, distribution and feedback provision.

·         Facilitate and support the revision, printing, distribution, and proper utilization of HIV recency testing SOPs, different formats, and registers.

·         Support RHBs/Regional /Public Health/ Laboratories to integrate recency QA testing with the existing Regional External Quality Assessment Scheme (REQAS).

·         Provides technical support for implementation of International/ National External Quality Assessment Scheme (IEQAS/NEQAS) and Regional External Quality Assessment Scheme (REQAS) in the regions.

·         Provide support on the online QC reporting for HIV-1 recency testing

·         In collaboration with the Regional/Public Health/ Laboratories, review RTRI QC/PT results and take corrective action on time.

·         Provide technical support and facilitate the implementation of Point of Care (POC) recency testing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and certification programs.

·         Support EPHI on the evaluation of Recent Infection Testing algorithm (RITA) at health facility level (Consistently check and support the transfer of results for viral load tests).

·         Support and check the accessibility of HIV recency Test kits at regional and site level

·         Participate in the regional TWG and performance review meetings.

·         Participate in health facility mentoring, joint supportive supervision with RHBs, and RRLs. 

·         Prepare and evaluate annual, monthly, and weekly work plan with targeted benchmark indicators and evaluate them on regular basis.

·         Represent ICAP-Ethiopia in different forums when assigned by the supervisor

·         Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor

·         Write weekly reports to the regional Director

Job Requirements

REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

•        MSc degree in laboratory science obtained from recognized university

•        Minimum of 5 years work experience, including laboratory support to HIV program

•        Having TOT/ basic trainings on rapid HIV testing, rapid HIV recency testing, EID/VL testing, LQMS, SLMTA, and PT preparation and interpretation, etc is advantageous.

•        Experience in training, mentoring, organizing, and conducting HIV lab related trainings.

•        Experience in development of national/ regional documents related to specimen referral, testing, and laboratory accreditation process.

•        Excellent interpersonal and coordination skills.

•        Proficiency in written and spoken English.

•        Computer skills (MS Office, power point, excel, SPSS, and other commonly used statistical packages)

•        Able to spend more than 75% of the time at Regional/Public Health/ Laboratories and health facilities. 

How to Apply

Register using THIS LINK

 NB – Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Closing date for receiving applications is – January 31, 2023