National Consultant – Zonal HIV/TB Officer

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The Zonal HIV/TB officer is expected to undertake the following tasks\:

(a)    Facility / Site level\:
1.    Conduct field visits to HIV/AIDS and TB related service delivery sites including areas for HTS, PMTCT, ART, TB, STI diagnostic and treatment centers, patient and program record keeping/data management, medication dispensing/supply chain management, diagnostics and monitoring services, KP intervention sites and other facility and community based linkage, retention, referral and support interventions to\:
a.    Review real-time program implementation and assess performance based on a detailed check-list (standard MOH support supervision tool) and identify program implementation issues
b.    Develop and support implementation of remediation/quality improvement plans, and provide ongoing mentoring and monitoring to measure improvements
c.    Review, inspect and cross-check program related records including reporting forms, registers algorithms, job aids and SOPs for availability, accuracy, completeness and relevance. The officer will also conduct interview of patients and staff, and verify that data synchronizes /matches well against reported performance for data quality assurance and verification.
d.    Randomly investigate cases of failed linkage, follow-up, adherence defaults and retention to determine causes and implications for improvement of program implementation and impart skills to field staff
e.    Facilitate utilization of updated patient and facility data collection, monitoring and reporting tools.
f.    Perform ad hoc, systematic queries and/or “deep dives” of site specific data for program priorities such as outcomes in patients (e.g., linkage, lost to follow up, death, transferred in/out, other) to inform, establish and strengthen site specific procedures. And while doing this, build capacity of facility and other support staff to better understand and use program data, conduct performance review and routinely discuss quality improvement activities
g.    Identify issues related to personnel (numbers, placements, training, skills and competencies) that impact quality patient care services delivery and facilitate resolution.
h.    Provide on-the-job training and mentorship, and impart skills to key HIV/AIDS program staff at the site level, county level and state level to improve knowledge, practices, analytic skills and problem solving for high quality patient-centered care and efficient and coordinated/integrated service delivery.
i.    Support implementation of program priorities and newer initiatives.
j.    Participate in preparation of centers’ initiation, preliminary assessments, regular supervision & review and periodic evaluations and assessments as dictated by program requirements.
k.    Assist in communicating up-to-date information on program implementation and feedback on policy implementation. This includes ensuring accurate and timely program and financial reporting, including electronic transmission to MOH.
l.    Be a member of the multi-disciplinary team at the facilities and Counties assigned to them.

2.    The expected minimum frequency of field visits to assigned facilities is monthly, all sites covered at least once per month. More frequent visits to be determined based on review of performance data and future direction provided by MOH for targeted performance improvement and follow up
3.    Identify issues related to logistics, supplies, consumables, infrastructure, human resource (skills and competences)  impacting service delivery and proactively identify feasible solutions at local level or county / state level and report back to the MOH
4.    Assist in coordinating periodic meetings, trainings, sensitizations, performance reviews and workshops for site level staff.
5.    Facilitate coordination between TB and HIV program activities at field level
6.    Participate in regular communications between field officers, stakeholders (PEPFAR (IPs), MOH) to share best practices, challenges, regular program and technical updates, and trainings.
7.    Prepare and submit required reports on a monthly basis (to include formats of written, electronic, power point, excel, verbal) that inform program implementation, quality, procedures and policies over time.
8.    Submit field supervision reports to MOH and the respective partners.
9.    Support the reporting of the HIV data through the National DHIS 2 reporting system and ensure data from facilities is in timely manner submitted to the county Health Department.
10.    Facilitate formation of the quality improvement teams at facility level where applicable and provide technical guidance to the teams
11.    Provide support for approaches improving HIV testing yield
12.    Support facility-based cascade analysis
13.    Assist in laboratory monitoring ( VL, EID and QA sample transportation, return of results, interpretation and management of failure/ non-adherence)
14.    Supplies management (support  Logistics Management Information System (LMIS)\: recording, ordering, reporting and planning distribution including last mile delivery to facilities)
15.    Perform other duties as assigned to support new initiatives and fidelity of technical/program interventions

DELIVERABLES

1.    Monthly HTS/PMTCT/ART/TB facility reports in the zone/ region
2.    Comprehensive quarterly (Oct – Dec 2018) technical report including HIV & TB Cascade analysis
3.    Supervision/mentorship reports

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: First University Degree in Public Health or health-related disciplines;

Essential\: At least one year of clinical or public health work experience.

Desirable\: HIV, TB or other public health program experience; monitoring and evaluation.