Data Assistant

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNCTION

The Republic of South Sudan through the Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with WHO and other key health actors have undertaken several initiatives and efforts to strengthen capacity to improve HIV programme interventions to achieve the national 90-90-90 targets in the Country.

Over the last decades, South Sudan has continued to face humanitarian crises of varying nature and intensity weakening the health systems and thus hindering progressive coverage of health services including HIV. The National HIV treatment programme in South Sudan aims at ensuring that people living with HIV to be virally suppressed. For this to happen, people living with HIV need to be diagnosed promptly, linked to care, initiated on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and continuously adhere to medication and to collect information within the cascade analysis for an informed decision making. MOH with support from WHO and other partners has recently updated HIV Patient Monitoring tools and guide based on the global 2015 Consolidated Strategic Information (SI) Guideline for HIV in the Health Sector. These tools have been integrated into the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), for regular reporting across partners and will be used to collect data on indicators to track and monitor the HIV response nationally.

To improve quality of care, address gaps and increase efficiencies along the continuum for better outcomes of treatment, there is need for improved the availability and use of strategic HIV information at all levels for decision making and planning within the health system. Correct data collection practices and reporting will be a key tool to monitor HIV program across the cascades as outlined in the National strategic plan for HIV /AIDS.

It is against this background that WHO will provide technical support to MOH and partners through a data assistant to manage HIV and all related data within the program. The data assistant will work to support WHO Country Office to ensure all HIV data has been collected, cleaned and analyzed so as to generate all the required reports for strengthening HIV treatment cascade in the country

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the direct supervision of the MOH Directorate of Primary Health Care –National HIV programme with Technical guidancefrom the WHO HIV programme, the data manager will work closely with all HIV program Staff in the Ministry of Health and relevant partners to produce HIV reports that will be used to monitor HIV program performance against National set indicators in the country.

·Routine collection and compilation of HIV/Hepatitisdata using standard MOH HIV data collection tools Supervise, check and clean raw data to identify data quality errors

·Ensure secure data storage and maintain confidentiality of sensitive data

·Manage data repositories, including updating HIV/Hepatitis datasets as well as maintain a record of data and variableupdates

·Conduct data managementtrainings for field site staff i.e. data entry, simple data analysis and reporting using standard MOH HIV/Hepatitis tools

·Perform data query management ensuring all queries are issued and resolved appropriately and in a timely manner

·Work with HIV /Hepatitis program team to ensure all due data reports are submitted timely using the correct standard reporting forms, formats and templates.

·Assist in updating and maintaining data collection tools and devices.

·Assist in resolving HIV /Hepatitisdata collection, software and hardware challenges

·Compile and provide data analysis to the national HIV program on monthly basis using standard templates so as to determine HIV prevalencerates ,incidence rates ,number of people leaving with HIV and those initiated on ART

·Prepare weekly reports, monthly reports and quarterly reportsand share them

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Essential\: – Completion of Secondary education supplemented by training/ certification indata processing/ management

• Desirable\: - Diploma or Degree in Health Information Management or related field

Experience

Essential\: - Minimum 5 years relevant experience in data processing, analysis andmanagement, out of which 2 years must be in health related data management at national and/ orsub-national level.

·Desirable\: - Experience with development of National HIV/ TB/ Hepatitis program.

Experience in health service delivery and management including use ofHMIS and DHIS

Use of language skills

• Essential\: - Expert knowledge of English
  
  
• Desirable\: - Knowledge of Simple Arabic

Specific skills required\:

·Basic skillsin Data Management HIS2 system use

·Excellent database computing skills including a high level competency in the use of MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access (including the creation of databases, queries, forms)

·Data collection and management

·Strong training skills.

·Time management and ability to prioritize multiple task

·Self-motivated person able to work without close supervision

·Able to work effectively in a diverse team environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

-This Vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level in other locations within South Sudan.

.Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• Qualified women are encouraged to apply.