Institutional Background
The African Network for the Care of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANECCA) is a network of clinicians and social scientists with a mission to improve the quality of health care services for women, children, adolescents, young adults, and their families in Africa. As a registered NGO in Uganda, ANECCA has strong collaboration with the Ministry of Health, District Local Government, and other related institutions. ANECCA is currently implementing the USAID Local Partner Health Services – Karamoja Activity, purposely to Support the public health sector to increase the availability, accessibility and utilization of quality integrated HIV and TB services in the Karamoja-region in Northeastern Uganda. We are thus seeking applications for qualified individuals for the position of Clinical Mentor. Successful candidates will work under the supervision of Technical Officer – HIV/TB Care and treatment & CQI in the assigned LPHS – Karamoja health facilities in Abim, Moroto, Karenga, Kaabong & Kotido. The Clinical Mentors will implement HIV care and treatment, counselling, community linkages/referral and retention activities with site teams in line with LPHSK_ANECCA program goals and MOH guidelines and specifically deliver the outlined key outputs in execution of the following duties and responsibilities;
Key outputs: 100% retention rate of identified HIV positive clients in HIV care and treatment, LPHS-Karamoja supported health facility-based performance gaps identified and agreed upon interventions with health facility teams and community health workers implemented,100% achievement of HIV prevention (VMMC, HTS, PMTCT), HIV care enrolment, Care and treatment, and TB Targets, 100% functional Health facility and Community linkage/referral system ,High yield Health Facility counselling and psychosocial support activities conducted, 100% updated Audit tools (Adult, Pediatrics and adolescent, PMTCT/EID) and submitted on a weekly basis, Weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on site level HIV/TB indicator progress complied and submitted, Regular Data and performance reviews conducted etc.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Implement day-to-day clinical care of PLHIVs including children, adolescents and pregnant/lactating mothers providing clinical assessments, diagnosis, management/ provision of comprehensive HIV care and treatment including (EMTCT, TB, Treatment and family planning, cervical cancer screening and management in line with revised MOH guidelines.
2. Monitor facility stocks of key HIV/TB commodities and supplies, accurate and timely quantification of ARVs and other logistics, prescribing and dispensing of drugs at the ART clinic with the ART in-charge in line with the medical logistics and dispensing guidelines
3. Monitor Community Health Workers performance levels to track HIV case identification through HIV risk assessment, APN/Index Client Testing, Social Network Strategy (SNS), HIV Self Testing and any other HIV testing approaches at all service delivery points in line with MOH guidelines.
4. Implement same day ART initiation interventions and track ART initiation of clients not yet linked in collaboration with Community Health Workers and other facility teams in line with MOH guidelines
5. Participate in patient diagnosis and management including advanced HIV disease (AHD) screening and management.
6. Conduct quality and comprehensive counselling services to clients, their partners and other family members (Pre-test, Post-test, Adherence support) in line with MOH guidelines.
7. Track virological monitoring of clients’ response to ART and provide intensive adherence counseling to all that are not suppressing in with MOH guidelines.
8. Follow up on the implementation of community/facility – based HIV/TB interventions (i.e., HIV and TB case identification, linkage to treatment, tracking second visit, patient adherence, retention/back to care efforts, self-management, counselling, psychosocial support, and other services) by health facility teams and community health workers in line with MOH Guidelines.
9. Conduct site specific weekly data reviews meetings with the health facility teams, Data Assistants and health information officers, to support utilization and joint update of audit tools (Adult, Ped and adolescent, PMTCT/EID) and other HMIS tools/registers, and tailor site level activities to bridge identified performance gaps in line with MOH Guidelines.
10. Compile and submit weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports on site level HIV/TB indicator progress as per set timelines.
11. Review Community Health Workers’ timesheets and reports and make timely submission to LPHS-Karamoja office on a monthly basis.
12. Document best practices and success stories to enable replication and improvement of LPHS – Karamoja project.
13. Prepare and submit paperwork for completed site-specific LPHS-Karamoja approved activities in accordance with LPHS-Karamoja (ANECCA) SOPs.
14. Participate any other activities as will be assigned by the immediate supervisor.
Required Education Training, Experience, other relevant skills& personality attributes
• Diploma in clinical medicine, Diploma in Nursing, Diploma in midwifery or Enrolled Nurse/ Enrolled midwife with a valid practicing license.
• Certificate in HIV Counselling or Child & Adolescent Counselling or Training of trainers is an added advantage.
• At least one (1) year of practical work experience in HIV/AIDS Care, treatment and counselling in a reputable health institution in the last one year.
• Special knowledge in Trends and developments in HIV/AIDS Counselling, Rights of PLHIV and current MOH consolidated Guidelines for HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment.
• Excellent Counselling skills, Interpersonal skills, written& verbal communication skills and computer skills.
• Integrity, Empathy, Patience, Confidentiality, Accommodative, Proactive, Team Player.
• Experience and ability to work in hard to reach areas of Karamoja Region, as well as communicating in the local language.
• Good report writing skills, analytical skills, ability to respond to tight deadlines and support a cross section of Community health workers.
If you believe you have the above credentials, send your application, Curriculum Vitae & academic credentials to applications@anecca.org Cc: aneccaapplications@gmail.com before close of business Monday 22 -May 2023