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Company: Malawi AIDS Counselling and Resource Organization (MACRO)
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Overview
Malawi AIDS Counselling and Resource Organization (MACRO) is a locally registered nongovernmental organization (NGO) established in 1995 to complement Governmentโs efforts in in the fight against HIV and AIDS and other health related issues.
MACROโs Vision is โMalawi populace free of ill-Healthโ and its Mission is โTransform lives of Malawians through provision of high-quality HIV and AIDS, and other health related servicesโ.
With funding from CDC, MACRO is implementing the IMPACT Project whose purpose is: To strengthen effective measures to address unmet needs for HTS among men, AGYW and KP/PP and HIV services for KP in CDC supported districts towards the attainment of 95-95-95 goals.
Therefore, MACRO is inviting applications from suitably qualified candidates to fill the following vacant positions in Lilongwe.
1. Role: COMMUNITY LINKAGE NURSES (2)
Location: Lilongwe
Reporting to: DREAMS Officer
Job Summary
Reporting to the Project Officer, the Community Linkage Nurse is responsible for coordinating the implementation of community activities; development of community work plans in line with the scope of work and project work plan and ensure that DREAMS Light targets are achieved. Community Linkage Nurse will work directly with the Ministry of Health district staff, district partners and Community stakeholders to increase the number of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) and their sexual partners reached with HIV and SRH services. Community Linkage Nurse will also support supervision and monitoring of the community project activities rendered by CBDA and HDAs. Through provision of various HIV/SRH services, Community Linkage nurse will contribute to achieving quality of services provided to AGYW and their sexual partners. S/he will contribute to strengthen the collaboration with various partners in the district. S/he will support in the production of evidence-based strategies of identifying HIV cases, and SRH services and share with other team members.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Diploma in Nursing and registered with Malawi Nurses Council.
- Those with Bachelorโs Degree in nursing will have an added advantage.
- Minimum of 3 yearsโ experience in provision of HIV and SRH services in AGYW and their sexual partners.
- Must be trained and certified cervical cancer screening service provider with proven recent provision of cervical cancer screening services
- Must be trained in ART provision
- Must be trained in Family planning provision with proven recent provision of Family planning services
- Experience in working in community health service provision and DREAMS projects is an advantage.
- Valid motorcycle license
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLSย AND ABILITIES
- Comprehensive knowledge of DREAMS project including AGYW, SRH, HIV and AIDS prevention, counselling and testing, Care, Treatment and Support interventions.
- Good knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets and databases is required.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Conflict resolution and management skills
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Project Implementation
- Providing HIV services including HIV testing and linkage to Prevention services (PrEP, VMMC, Post GBV including PEP), care including ART and support services to AGYW and their sexual partners.
- Providing SRH services including STI screening and referral, Cervical cancer screening, treatment and referrals, Post Gender Based Violence support.
- Maintaining a clinical services track informed by profiling and active screening and providing clinical services to partners of AGYW at community level.
- Ensuring all required resources are available for SRH and HIV services at community level.
- Supervising and coordinating the implementation of community outreach SRH and HIV services
- Keeping detailed village-level data for data-driven clinical services provision, monitoring, and tracking.
- Maintaining quality assurance in HIV Counselling and Testing, Care, Treatment and Support in the community and referral clinics.
- Supervising HIV Diagnostic Assistants (HDAs) and Community Based Distribution Agents.
- Identifying activity implementation challenges, develop remedial plan and implement it accordingly.
- Identifying best practices and share with other Project team members
- Developing and implementing project monthly work plan
- Ensuring that SRH, HIV Testing Services, Care, Treatment and Support national protocols and guidelines are followed in the implementation of the project.
- Preparing and submitting monthly progress reports to the project Officer and Project Manager sharing program challenges, best practices, and recommendations to improve the program.
- Reviewing and approving performance appraisals, timesheets, claims, and travel requests for supervisees.
- Stakeholder coordination
- Ensuring maintenance of effective communication channels amongst staff, donors, partners and Ministry of Health.
- Representing the project and organization in various stakeholdersโ meeting
- Assisting in any training or other activities supported by MACRO or MoH
2. Post: HIV Diagnostic Assistant Supervisor
Duty Station: Lilongwe
Reports to: District DREAMS project officer
Position Summary
The HIV Diagnostic Assistant Supervisor provides supervision of HIV Testing services including HIVST kit distribution, conventional HIV testing and index testing through mentorship of HDAs and ensuring maintenance of quality standards by providers.ย She/he works under close guidance and support from the DREAMS officer to ensure quality assurance activities are being followed in the implementation of quality HIV testing services in the community and linkages between HIV testing services and prevention, care and treatment services.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Competencies
- Must hold a minimum of certificate in clinical medicine, nursing, laboratory/Biomedical sciences and public health. Those with diploma will have an added advantage.
- Must have successfully completed both the National HIV Testing and Counseling and the National HIV Self-Test Distribution courses as evidenced by possessing both certificates. Those trained in integrated testing services (skills intensive) have added advantage
- Must have successfully completed the National HIV Testing and Counseling Supervision course as evidenced by possessing certificates.
- Must have a valid Motorcycle rider license.
- At least 2 yearsโ experience working in the health sector programs with focus on HIV testing and HIVST distribution; community based HTS is an added advantage.
- Need to be familiar with Malawian culture and Health Systems,
- Working literacy in Word, Excel, power point and Email (Outlook).
Responsibilities
- The HIV Diagnostic Assistant Supervisor must have completed the nationally recognized HTS Supervision Course and should demonstrate competence consistent with the HIV Testing and Counselling guidelines and the HIVST guidelines by Ministry of Health.
- Designing a supervisory plan and schedule for supervisory sessions with HIV Diagnostic Assistants.
- Sets individual performance objectives with the HIV Diagnostic Assistants so that they know what is expected of them.
- Conducts mentorship visits including sit-in observations to assess competencies of HIV Diagnostic Assistants and whether or not clientsโ needs are met and timely give feedback.
- Promotes a spirit of team work among HIV Diagnostic Assistants, facility implementing partners and enhances a sense of individual responsibility and commitment for the provision of quality HIV Counselling and testing services to all clients.
- Ensures data is collected and entered weekly from HDAs and Conducts systematic analyses of data information for feedback, interprets the information, and documents the results.
- Facilitate the integration of HIV testing and counselling activities in all high-risk community service delivery points
- Support the HIV Diagnostic Assistants in documenting best practices in HIV Testing Counselling/success stories.
- Monitors logistical supplies systems ensuring adequate and consistent supply of reagents and supplies.
- Submits weekly, Monthly and Quarterly reports for activities and consolidates them into an overall report.
- Ensuring the HIV Diagnostic Assistants are maintaining infection prevention measures at all times
- Ensuring the HIV Diagnostic Assistants are following HTS Standards and protocols.
- Participate in district level planning and review meeting.
- Perform any other program related duties as assigned by the supervisor which will facilitate accomplishment of program objectives.
- Facilitate the development of innovative project approaches and interventions;
3. Post: HIV Diagnostic Assistantย
Duty Station: Lilongwe
Reports to: HDA Supervisor
Position Summary
The HIV Diagnostic Assistant will provide HIV testing and counselling services at the community level following index client testing and approaches targeting key/at risk populations such as Men, youth, adolescents, young women etc under IMPACT-DREAMS project. She/he works under close guidance and support from the HDA Supervisor and HIV Testing Officers to support the DHMT in implementing quality HIV testing services in the community and linkages between HIV testing services and care and treatment services.
Responsibilities
- Overall responsibility for conducting client and group education, pre-test and post-test counseling for the individuals or families using standard protocols outlined in the MoH HTS and HIVST guidelines including the 5 Cs.
- Distribution of HIVST kits using approved distribution channels and protocols.
- Conducting HIVST distribution and conventional HIV Testing using approved HIV testing and Counselling Algorithms.
- Assisting clients in performing the HIVST including direct observation to ensure correct interpretation of the test results.
- Provide individual client and group education, pre-testing counselling, HIV Testing and post-test counselling using standard protocols outlined in the approved MoH HTS guidelines.
- Provide accurate and timely information to clients about HIV treatment availability, benefits and importance of partner testing.
- Adopt targeted community HIV Testing strategies to reach HIV high-risk population including index case testing, social networking strategy, HIVST, and moonlight testing.
- Ensuring effective client referral and linkages to other supportive services including ART treatment and care, STI services, VMMC, PrEP, cervical cancer screening.
- Comply with IMPACT data collection and reporting guidelines, including submission of daily, weekly and monthly reports.
- Document best practices in HIV Testing services in collaboration with the HDA Supervisor
- Follow stock management practices to ensure adequate and consistent availability of HIV test kits, infection prevention supplies and other HTS supplies for community testing services.
- Work with community-based stakeholders on HIV related service delivery including HTS providers, HSAs, CBOs, CBDAs, Expert clients and VHCs.
- Perform any other program related duties as assigned by the supervisor, which will facilitate accomplishment of program objectives.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills and Competencies
- MSCE certificate is required. Additional related professional qualifications could be an advantage.
- Successful completion of the nationally recognized HTS Counsellor Training Course; and HIVST Distributors training. Completion of integrated testing services training is an added advantage.
- Must have a valid Motorcycle riding license.
- Minimum 1-year experience working in the health sector with a focus on HTS
- Sound understanding of HIV/HTS services including understanding of the health sector policies and program frameworks pertaining to HIV/HTS;
- Good interpersonal and communication skills; fluent in relevant local languages
- Demonstrated experience working with various community and facility structures such as DHOs, VHC, ADCs, and CBOs will be an advantage.
- Ability to work effectively in a team as well as independently.
- Working literacy in Word, Excel and Email (Outlook).
- Ability to work in a complex environment charged with multiple tasks, short deadlines and intense pressure to perform
- Motivated, passionate, and hard working.
4. Post: Psychosocial counsellor
Duty Station: Lilongwe
Reports to: District DREAMS Officer
Position Summary
The PSS counsellor reports to the district DREAMS officer and is responsible for providing psychosocial support to clients in catchment areas implementing the IMPACT-DREAMS project.
Responsibilities
- Providing, developing, and applying effective interventions to promote the clientโs psychological well-being, social, emotional, and behavioral development
- Initiating/Attending case management meetings and involving multidisciplinary teams
- Counsel newly identified and initiated patients on ART to facilitate acceptance of HIV status, disclosure, and uptake of partner and family testing
- Provide psychosocial support to clients during high viral load clinics and identify support strategies to improve adherence with the Clinic team.
- Act as a focal point for identification, documentation, and referral of cases, including assignment of cases to case managers on SGBV and child protection through the provision of psychosocial support.
- Provide psychosocial support to clients during outreach clinics and identify support strategies to improve outcomes for the patient (includes liaising with parents/ guardians and education support structures). Screen for depression and other mental health issues and address them/refer
- Work with CBOs and support groups to identify and organize activities to improve positive living and improved self confidence
- Provide psychosocial support to improve disclosure and support uptake of risk reduction behaviors and improved communications amongst discordant couples
- Provide psycho-social support for victims of GBV and ensure appropriate referrals are provided. Follow up with GBV patient one month after to document outcomes
- Make appropriate professional referrals for AGYWs who require psychological, psychiatric, or legal assessment/treatment and other psychosocial support services. Have a list of agencies and individuals to provide referrals to
- Organize home visits for selected clients and provide home-based support
- Work with HDA, CBDAs, and Expert clients to ensure patients at high risk of defaulting are referred to get further support from the Psychosocial Counsellor
Communication and Knowledge Management
- Represent DREAMS project progress, achievements, and lessons learned to donors, key stakeholders in the public, private sector, and professional circles throughย networking, meetings, conferences, and presentations;
- Maintain excellent relationships with the donor, MOH, partners, and stakeholders;
- Work with community-based stakeholders on HIV-related service delivery including HTS providers, HSAs, CBOs, VHCs, expert clients, and CBDAs.
Qualifications, Experience, Skills, and Competencies
- University diploma in psychosocial counseling from a recognized institution.
- At least 3 years of experience in health sector programs, with a focus on community-based service delivery.
- Sound understanding of PEPFAR and Malawian Government HIV priorities, including 95-95-95 goals and demographic targeting, Malawiโs health sector policies, and program frameworks.
- Demonstrated ability to work with NGOs/CBOs and other community-based organizations
- Competent computer skills (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook Email, etc);
- Articulate in written and spoken English with effective communication skills, and excellent interpersonal and written and oral presentation skills
- Experience in supporting the community-based provision of health services
- Valid motorbike license.
All interested applicants for the above positions are requested to submit their application, CV, educational qualifications, names and contact telephone numbers of at least three referees addressed to The Executive Director, MACRO, by email to: macrorecencyproject@gmail.com with subject line clearly indicating the position being applied for. Closing date for receiving applications is Friday, 22nd March, 2024.ย Only short-listed candidates will be acknowledged.