District Medical TB/HIV Mentor (DMM) job description - x1 (Sesheke Zone)

Western Province has made significant progress in scaling-up antiretroviral treatment (ART) towards epidemic control. The Zambia Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) 2016 report shows that Western Province has the HIV prevalence at 15.9% in the ages 15-59 years with 47.3% viral suppression in Zambia. Significant age and gender gaps exist in males between the age groups of 20-24 and 25-29 and females in the age groups 15-24 and 25-34. Further, TB and cryptococosis are significant causes of mortality among PLHIV. Inadequate capacities among HC/Ps to ensure quality of care remain a major concern necessitating the importance of clinical mentors to ensure quality service provision at facility level. WPHO, with support from PEPFAR through CDC, is rolling out Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) to selected ART sites in the province. Project ECHO is a novel tool for clinical mentorship and training which allows experts in HIV management to routinely share best practices for HIV care and treatment with healthcare workers throughout Zambia via a virtual learning network.

Scope of work

• The District Medical TB/HIV Mentor (DMM) will be responsible for improving HIV/TB clinical care cascade focusing on meeting targets for epidemic control and improving quality of HIV/TB services provided at all sites in the district(s).
• In order to achieve this, the mentor will spend majority of their time providing site level mentorship.

These activities will be done in collaboration with the clinical care team at the district level to achieve excellence in the district(s):

Key Duties

• District Mentors will ensure delivery of quality TB and HIV services
• Work with District Clinical Care teams to establish advanced HIV treatment centers in the assigned districts
• Perform timely and regular analyses of site level performance of every site in their assigned district(s) with special attention to highest impact sites with support from Monitoring & Evaluation team
• Responsible for finding innovative solutions to challenges identified at sites within their assigned district(s)
• Provide targeted and data-driven clinical mentorship to TB/HIV treatment staff for both adult and pediatric care services, including PMTCT in health facilities and monitoring of improvement in services

The District Mentors will be the technical coordinator of Project ECHO and will utilize this platform to provide direct technical support and supervision in TB/HIV, VMMC and data management to all health facilities in their respective districts by:

• Participating in TeleECHO sessions as facilitator and faculty (present didactics)
• Helping the facility In charge to select case presentations and recruit site healthcare providers to participate in TeleECHO sessions
• Supervision of Clinical Officer Mentors within assigned districts
• Work with MS/DHD in coordinating with implementing partners/stakeholders at the district level including community based organizations, on issues relating to the implementation of TB/HIV activities
• Works with Clinic Staff to identify and carry out Quality Improvement projects
• Work with pharmacists to ensure the supply chain of commodities is not interrupted
• Provide technical support and supervision in initiating and improving ongoing clinical care for patients receiving treatment for OIs, TB, HIV and PMTCT as well as post-operative care for VMMC clients
• Provide technical support to service delivery teams at facility and community levels in order to increase and improve access to care, case identification and retention in care as well as improvement in treatment outcomes especially viral load suppression
• Provide technical support for the establishment of site-level patient flow patterns to ensure effective infection control, provision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for clinical and managerial staff in supported health facilities
• Provide technical support for effective referral of tuberculosis and HIV patients from communities to facilities and vice versa and assist to develop systems for patient tracking and feedback at both facility and community levels in the district
• Actively participate in identifying best practices and documenting them
• Actively participate in supporting efforts aimed at accelerating differentiated Service Delivery
• Participate in all TB/HIV Technical Meetings at district level and provide updates as required
• Participate in identification of training gaps in TB/HIV at both community and health facility levels in the district
• Participate in PHO program monitoring and CDC SIMS, document finding and assist sites to develop remedial measures and implementation of recommendations;
• Provide technical support to health facilities with low PT results and assist sites to develop remediation measures
• Compile weekly, monthly, quarterly as well as annual ad-hoc reports as required in the required formats and
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Required Expertise and Qualifications

• Grade 12 certificate with at least five O- level credits
• Fully qualified Medical Doctor from reputable institution
• At least two (2) years of relevant work experience in the field of TB and HIV control activities, supervisory experience at health facility or district level will be an added advantage
• Training in TB/HIV, HIV management for both adults and pediatrics and/or PMTCT
• Registered with the Health Professions Council of Zambia with a valid practicing license
• Computer literate, with high competency in using Microsoft office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience in PEPFAR supported TB/HIV activities will be an added advantage
• Clear understanding of the reporting hierarchy at district and facility levels
• Good Communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to uphold Confidentiality and Integrity
• Trustworthy and Honest.

Reporting, Supervision & Performance Evaluation:

• The incumbent will report to the District Health Director and the Medical Superintendent in their respective districts where available with technical interaction with Clinical Care Specialist;
• Form part of the District Clinical Care team and work closely with the Provincial Health office program officers
• Performance will be evaluated by the District Health Director in consultation with the Medical Superintendent in the facilities they support as well as the ECHO Chief mentor at central MOH.

How to Apply

Only candidates who meet the above specifications and competencies should apply enclosing their detailed CVs, photocopies of professional and academic qualifications be sure to indicate that you are applying for the position under WPHO/CDC CoAg.

Address all applications to:

The Provincial Health Director Western Provincial Health Office,

Independence Road,

4503 PO Box 910022,

Mongu – Zambia.